Drugs policy approach needs to change, Polanski says

There needs to be a "system change" on drugs policy, Green Party leader Zack Polanksi has said as he reiterated his backing for the legalisation of drugs.

Speaking on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, he called for a "public health approach" that would ensure that someone who had a "problematic relationship with drugs" could get help from a medical professional.

Earlier in the week, Sir Keir Starmer accused Polanski of being "high on drugs, soft on Putin", a comment Polanski said was "disgraceful" and "a cheap joke".

A No 10 source said the prime minister had been making "an important point about the recklessness and irresponsibility of the Green Party".

Polanski said he had personally never taken drugs or drunk alcohol, adding that it "wasn't for me".

Asked why he had never drunk alcohol, he said: "I grew up in school where a lot of my friends were drinking and in fact taking drugs and it felt like somebody needed to be sober.

"I've always liked dancing without taking drink or drugs.

"If anyone wants to do it and they're doing it safely fine, I'm glad people are having a good time.

"But we know lots of people aren't doing it safely so let's make sure they get the support they need."

Asked whether he believed legalisation could send a message to young people that using drugs would be okay, Polanski replied: "I think the danger is happening right now which is where we're pushing it into street corners and a black market."

He pointed to the organisation Anyone's Child, set up by families of those who had died due to drug use.

"They're saying very clearly with one voice we need a national conversation about how the war on drugs is not working," said Polanski.

"In fact it's making drugs more dangerous and actually what we need is a grown-up conversation based on evidence, taking a public health approach that looks at prevention, intervention and makes sure that afterwards people can get the support they need."

Last year, The Thistle in Glasgow became the first place in the UK where people could inject heroin or cocaine while under medical supervision without being prosecuted.

The UK government has said it would not change the existing drug laws to allow for the creation of more legal drug consumption rooms but would welcome any evidence that came out of The Thistle's three-year pilot.

It added the government was "focused on delivering a balanced approach with strengthened law enforcement to tackle supply coupled with investment in treatment, the development of a skilled workforce, sustainable recovery services and peer networks that will support people in recovery with employment, housing and education".

Polanski became the Green Party leader of England and Wales last September in a landslide victory.

He describes himself as an "eco-populist" and has sought to position his party firmly on the left of politics.

Asked if there was a risk he could alienate some of his party's traditional "tree-hugging middle class" voters, Polanski insisted his was "the party of the 99% versus the 1%".

He said there was "always a risk in politics" but added that since he became leader 130,000 new members had joined his party.

At the next general election, the Green Party could face the option of going into coalition with one of the other parties.

He has previously said the prime minister is "not a man I would be willing to work with".

Asked on Sunday if he would potentially be prepared to work with other politicians on the left such as Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, he said it would depend on "what kind of policy platform they were putting forward".

He added his "biggest focus" was trying to win more seats for the Green Party.

"If I was working with another politician, I would have some obvious demands - a wealth tax on multi-millionaires and billionaires, proper action on the climate crisis and indeed proportional representation so people's votes actually counted," he said.

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