There’s a few things that fall out of this statement.
Before I get onto those, let’s take a step back. I think The Grauniad is jumping ahead. As I understand it, police have Identified an issue and have called for a review.
Further, in the 13 or so orders that Bedfordshire Police have used to close down so-called County Lines, they’ve seen new deal lines set up within an hour or two.
Of course, this paper in particular (and the printed media in general) knows that denigrating the police sells more papers. It’s the old adage of why let the facts get in the way of a good story?
Ok, back to your statement.
Other countries have legalised some drugs. I have mixed feelings on this, there are pros and cons. And I don’t think that legalisation in other countries has necessarily solved problems. The main attraction for governments is they can legislate for taxation on something that is currently out of their reach.
As for the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, the justifications for that made in this country are largely anecdotal and tend to be proposed most enthusiastically by users of illegal substances. Furthermore, it’s a difference between tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the active ingredient that gives the high or cannabidiol (CBD) which is the ingredient useful to medicinal uses.
Whatever the answer is, I’m not convinced the legalisation of prohibited substances is the answer and nor is the requirement for ID when buying a SIM card. In the case of the latter, law-abiding people will be inconvenienced and criminals will adopt a new strategy that will make them likely even more difficult to detect.
