The Scottish government wants a change in UK laws to stop people found in possession of drugs for their own use being prosecuted.
Announcing the proposals, Scotland's Drugs Policy Minister Elena Whitham said the "war on drugs has failed"."Our current drug law does not stop people from using drugs, it does not stop people from experiencing the harm associated and, critically, it does not stop people from dying.
The number of people who died of drug misuse in Scotland dropped slightly last year from 1,339 to 1,330 after eight consecutive years of increases, but the country continues to have by far the highest drug death rate recorded by any country in Europe.The crisis prompted more than £250m of investment by the Scottish government into the country's addiction services.
A joint statement from 10 leading drugs charities welcomed the Scottish government's report, but said drug consumption rooms and drug testing facilities "as a matter of urgency".An unusual way to launch a major policy change on drugs.The Lord Advocate has already said there's a presumption against prosecution for personal drug possession - but that's only a presumption.
Yes, say the government's partners the Scottish Green Party - and also the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
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