Swinney urged to ditch 'dangerously stupid' support for drug decriminalisation
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said it would ‘fuel drug dealing and drug deaths’
John Swinney has been urged to ditch his “dangerously stupid” support for decriminalising drugs after he suggested the move could help reduce deaths.
In a letter to the First Minister, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said such a policy would “fuel drug dealing and drug deaths”.
He urged Mr Swinney to “think again” and warned failure to do so would send “a very dangerous message to those living with addiction and to impressionable young people”.
It comes after statistics for 2025 showed an 11 per cent increase in drug-related deaths, with 1,133 people losing their lives. Scotland continues to have by far the highest rate of drug deaths in Europe.
On Thursday, Mr Swinney said the situation was “unacceptable and intolerable” and repeated the government’s view that it is a “public health emergency”.
Speaking to journalists in Holyrood, he was asked about the SNP’s policy of supporting decriminalisation, where people would no longer face penalties if they were caught with drugs for personal use.
“The government does support that position that there is an argument for decriminalisation of drugs for personal use,” he said.
“I think it would be part of the range of measures that we could take to reduce the harm of drugs and provide us with a situation where there is more control and an ability to provide greater support to individuals who are affected by drug use.
“It’s obviously an issue that requires further consideration but the government supports that position.”
Westminster has control over drugs laws, so Mr Swinney does not have the power to pursue decriminalisation. However, the Lord Advocate, Scotland’s most senior law officer, previously issued guidance saying police can choose to issue a recorded police warning for simple possession offences for all classes of drugs.
In his letter, Mr Findlay highlighted the devastating impact of nitazenes, which are strong synthetic opioids.
He said: "Having presided over Europe's worst drug deaths for eight years running, John Swinney thinks it’s a good idea to decriminalise all Class A drugs like heroin and crack cocaine.
“This SNP policy is irresponsible and dangerous. But they would also decriminalise these highly potent and inherently dangerous synthetic opioids which is dangerously stupid.
“Grieving families who have lost a loved one through drugs will be astonished at the SNP’s weak and misguided approach. They are putting all their focus on so-called ‘harm reduction’ which often means encouraging drug-taking and trapping people in the misery of addiction.”
READ MORE: Why so many men are being killed by Scotland's drug deaths crisis as synthetic substances take hold
He added: “John Swinney accepts the deadly dangers of synthetic opioids so on what planet does he think it’s a good idea to decriminalise them?
“This would result in even more deaths and would also be boom time for the drug dealers. The SNP’s position also sends a very dangerous message to young people. They need to know that these drugs cannot be taken safely.
“I have written to Mr Swinney to urge him to ditch this idiotic policy now.”
Responding, SNP drugs minister Maree Todd said: "The First Minister has been clear that the Scottish government supports the case for decriminalisation of drugs for personal use. We have already called on the UK government to implement this, as part of wider reform of outdated drug laws.
“As part of our public health approach to reducing harm and saving lives, it would allow people found in possession of drugs to be treated and supported rather than criminalised and excluded.
“Evidence also suggests it can help remove barriers to people accessing support and treatment. We are equally clear that strong support, treatment and harm reduction services are also essential.
“We continue to widen access to naloxone treatment and residential rehabilitation. Our new alcohol and drugs strategic plan is backed by record funding and continues support for initiatives already saving lives such as The Thistle, the UK's first safer drug consumption room, and opening Scotland's first drug-checking service in Glasgow this October.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.