Police boss call to legalise cannabis – reckless and misguided says Clwyd West AM

Plaid Cymru commissioner’s cannabis legalisation calls slammed by Welsh Conservatives

Welsh Conservatives have slammed Plaid Cymru’s Police and Crime Commissioner for his attempts to recruit support for the legalisation of cannabis.

In a letter to Clwyd West AM Darren Millar, North Wales commissioner Arfon Jones requests backing for an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform who are spearheading a drive to legalise medicinal cannabis.

Mr Millar has criticised the move as “reckless”  and which may encourage a “laissez faire” attitude to drugs in the North Wales area.

He said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Arfon Jones knows first-hand the damaging effects drugs is having on our communities, so it was with some surprise and disappointment that I received his letter.

“Cannabis, whether used for medicinal or recreational purposes, is a dangerous substance and would have catastrophic consequence to health and society if it was ever legalised.

“How can we in one breath be calling for smoking cessation while advocating the use of cannabis, which is most commonly ingested through smoke inhalation?

“We already have problems with addiction to and the illegal trading of prescription drugs, legalising cannabis would make matters even worse.

“The commissioner’s calls are as reckless as they are misguided, and serve only to cultivate a ruinous laissez faire attitude to drugs, which are already taking their toll on public services and families affected by their use.