Controversial stance on drugs policy (From Penarth Times)

Controversial stance on drugs policy

I WAS very interested to read last week's coverage of the candidates in the forthcoming election.

I was particularly interested to read of the Liberal Democrat candidate's interest in drug policy.

This is an area that is of great interest to me too - especially as I have young children and, in addition, I used to work with young people.

So I did a bit of research of my own about Mr Cox on the internet and found that he tabled a motion to the Welsh Liberal Democrat Annual General Meeting saying that the current law on drugs like heroin is "failing" and called for "alternatives to the current law of prohibition".

When he was a candidate in 2001 he also caused controversy over his views on hard drugs.

While I agree that there is a genuine debate to be had over drugs policy, I can't agree that decriminalising drugs, especially hard drugs, is the answer to drug dependency, crime and poverty in our communities.

So I am sure I am not the only resident of Penarth who wants to know whether he has changed his position in the last few years or does he still believe that hard drugs should be legally available to young people?

Tracey Alexander

Cedar Way

Penarth