Scottish Government Calls for Decriminalisation of Drug Possession for Personal Use

Discarded paraphernalia used by drug users is pictured in a lane in Glasgow on Dec. 15, 2020. Andy Buchanan /AFP via Getty Images

The Scottish government has called on the UK government to decriminalise the possession of drugs for personal use.

Drugs policy minister Elena Whitham said on Friday that her government’s new proposals are “ambitious and radical” and “will help save lives” in Scotland, which has by far the highest drug death rate recorded by any country in Europe.