50th Anniversary of the Misuse of Drugs Act

That the Parliament acknowledges the 50th anniversary of the Misuse of Drugs Act on 27 May 2021; believes that Scotland's reported drug deaths crisis is evidence that the existing legislation on drugs harm is failing people and communities across the UK; agrees that reform of drugs law, including decriminalisation, is required to reduce harm and that substance use should be treated as a public health issue and not as a criminal justice issue; considers that the fear of criminalisation is stigmatising and a barrier to people accessing help and treatment for problem drug use; expresses condolences to the 1,264 people who died from drugs harm in 2019; calls on the UK and Scottish Governments to implement the recommendations from the Scottish Affairs Committee's 2019 inquiry into drug use in Scotland; further believes that action on safe consumption rooms and granting immunity from prosecution could be granted by the Lord Advocate now, and further agrees that investment in mental health, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services can be taken now by the Scottish Government, and that it must be a top priority.