Jamie Oliver calls for drug legalisation

[Kushty23]

In the Sunday Times this weekend Jamie Oliver called for a debate on drug legalisation, saying that the war on drugs had failed and that we should explore alternatives, particularly because of the negative effect the war on drugs has on young people.

This mirrors a call that David Cameron made when he was backbencher in 2002. See:

www.tdpf.org.uk/MediaNews_Reform-supporters_Politics.htm#cameron

What do other parents think?

I think heroin should be available to addicts on prescription

Is Oliver running for parliament or Archbishop of Canterbury or something? His campaign for decent food in schools at least had a link to something he's an expert in.

Oh, Jamie do give it rest love!

It's nothing which hasn't been suggested before and has it's merits - perhaps why JO is throwing his weight behind it.

Sorry but as much as I like his food and what he is doing with regards to the diet of our nation, I don't think Jamie Oliver is really the right person to be declaring "The war on drugs has failed". What does he actually know about it?

I agree we need more debate on the subject though. Let's just not do it because a celebrity chef says we should!

Maybe Oliver thinks that now Claire Rayner's no longer with us, there's a gap in the market for a chubby campaigning agony aunt uncle.

welll, i agree. the illegality of drugs does much harm, and doesn't stop anyone from taking drugs.

as a parent, (get me) i think that is your child develops a drugs problem, the illegality of drugs can only add difficulty - a criminal record for possession or PWITS will usually outlast any youthful interest in controlled substances. Most people that take drugs do not come to any serious harm.

wonder what Mylene Klass thinks.

Jamie might come up with some interesting cakes though.

scurry

I've read the article, and his comments on drugs were in relation to the apprentices who come on to his Fifteen programme, so he's not speaking out of turn here. He was very eloquent on the difficulties that the students had and how much of it was drug related, (and gangs too) so as always with these things it is slightly out of context.

It was a very interesting piece, and I wish to god more people like him took the time and trouble to help these youngsters - the people who work with him on the programme were pretty impressive too.

He's only saying what all reasonable people think.