Cannabis and the Police

James Gubb, 15 October 2008

Defenders of a society based on a liberal political culture and a market economy have often disagreed over the best way to handle drug taking. One of the great champions of free markets Milton Friedman was famously in favour of legalisation. Others favour strict control. This week the Home Secretary announced that cannabis is to be reclassified as a class B drug, instead of class C. Simultaneously she proposed a measured approach to enforcement. A first offence of cannabis possession would lead to a warning, a second to a fixed penalty fine of £80, and a third to arrest.
What should we do? Continue at the Telegraph blog.