Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-11-18-Speech-4-286"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"1999-11-18"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:EU action plan to combat drugs (continuation)2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.19991118.15.4-286"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:1999-11-18-Speech-4-2872
lpv:speaker	lp:Sir Graham Watson2
lpv:spoken text	"Few issues so highlight the differences of cultural approach between Member States. I feel this report reflects a good consensus and I congratulate Mrs Giannakou-Koutsikou on the work that she has done in putting it together. I belong to a growing minority in the Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party and also in this House which believes a radical change to our approach may be needed. Why? Quite apart from the ethical flaw in the prohibitionist argument – the state has no right to prevent a responsible adult from taking drugs – the fact is that prohibition is not working. Our approach, which is based on controlling the supply of drugs, is using up massive resources. The police in Bristol in my constituency tell me that 85% of all crime is drug-related. This is destroying our inner cities, where drug dealers find a large market and sometimes even become role models for disenchanted young people. It is filling our prisons with people who need care rather than incarceration, and it discriminates disproportionately against ethnic minorities, some of which have cultures in which drug abuse is less frowned upon than in others. But, more importantly, it is helping to fund other forms of criminal activity and strengthening international organised crime. We need at least to consider switching resources away from attacking the supply of drugs and towards attacking demand."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Liberal Democrat Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 chair; Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Conference of Committee Chairs (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Delegation for relations with Japan (1999-09-29--2002-01-14)3 member_of_the_bureau; ELDR (1999-07-20--2002-01-15)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"(Applause)"1 "Watson (ELDR )."1

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