Irish Examiner
30/08/2006 - 6:00:58 PM
No easing of drugs policy, says Ahern
The Minister with responsibility for drug treatment has dismissed calls for the legalisation of banned drugs.
Minister of State at the Department of Community Noel Ahern said that has signed an international accord to ban the likes of heroin, cannabis and cocaine.
A former
Florida
police chief this week provoked controversy when he urged European governments to declassify the substances in order to beat traffickers and better protect society and public health.
Minister Ahern has today rejected the calls, saying they wouldn't work.
“We're not going in that direction,” he said. “And if there is moves into the future it would have to be dealt with on a world wide basis. One country on its own cannot move.
“
Holland
tried for a few years ago and they're backing off big time because they realised they were bringing a drug tourism.”