Spice: template for a shiny happy world?

The news that the British military has recovered heroin in Afghanistan with a street value in the UK of £50m once again throws the whole issue of drugs and money centre stage.

Of course, the drug locally in Afghanistan would have nothing like that value – perhaps, some experts say, a few thousand dollars at best. So one wonders why UK PLC isn’t buying it and disposing of it or, better, “commercialising” it.

The illegal drug industry worldwide now appears completely out of control. Despite the best efforts of her majesty’s forces in Afghanistan, the business even out of that country continues to rise.

I have already blogged about “spice”, the commercial and so far legal alternative to cannabis. Since I posted it, I have heard that, following in the footsteps of the German government (who have already banned spice), the UK authorities expect to do so too.

But should they? Could “spice” offer the template for a worldwide formula for getting the criminality out of the drug trade?

I worked in a drug dependence day centre for three years. I was the director in the early 1970s, in the first bloom of heroin abuse in this country. I was persuaded then that drug abuse afflicted people who had other problems – indeed, it exacerbated them.

But I knew far more youngsters who died from dirty needles or adulterated stuff than ever died from pure heroin or coke. I knew far more youngsters who ended up behind bars for dealing than ever I knew enter a psychiatric hospital – although a good number did.

Is it time to think again about commercialising illegal drugs? Would the consequences be any worse than those of our present policies?