Breaking the Taboo - the failed war on drugs is an issue for the labour movement

http://www.breakingthetaboo.info/

I was pleased recently to see the excellent film, "Breaking the Taboo" which exposes the comprehensive and total failure of the "war on drugs" declared by Richard Nixon and still being fought in spite of overwhelming evidence of its futility.

The showing of the film (which you can find on YouTube and which I thoroughly recommend, was followed by a panel discussion at Komedia in Brighton, in which Green MP Caroline Lucas reported on the success of an e-petition which will now lead to a debate in Parliament‎ on the entirely sensible proposition that the Government should gather and consider evidence on the effectiveness of the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act.

The failed policy of prohibition criminalises those with a health problem (addiction), underpins the business model of organised crime and ruins (and ends) lives. Many UNISON members - and other trade unionists - see the devastating social consequences of the continuing failure of a misconceived policy of repression both in our union work and our working lives.

If we are to shift the United Kingdom in the direction of a progressive policy on drugs we need to move the Labour Party in that direction. I suggest that trade union activists watch the film - and reflect upon what we can do in that cause.

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the EE network.