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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Libby Brooks and Severin Carrell

Scotland proposes drug decriminalisation in Westminster challenge

Westminster Elena Whitham Scotland Rachel Reeves
Elena Whitham said: ‘If you push people who are using drugs to the margins, that’s when bad things happen'.’
Elena Whitham said: ‘If you push people who are using drugs to the margins, that’s when bad things happen'.’ Photograph: SST/Alamy

The Scottish government is challenging Westminster to decriminalise all drugs for personal use, in a fresh attempt to tackle Scotland’s chronically high drug death rates.

Introducing a new paper on reform, Scotland’s drugs and alcohol policy minister, Elena Whitham, described the proposals as “ambitious and radical, grounded in evidence, that will help save lives”.

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