Calls grow for Government to ban hard drugs

A movement to ban hard drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy in the United Kingdom is growing, following calls from a group of campaigners led by Christopher Whithed, of Ripon, Yorkshire.

A petition submitted to Parliament calls for the government to re-establish the ban on hard drugs, which was ended in 2015 by the Drug Reform Act, authored by the Green Party and the 2nd Official Opposition.

In a letter to Employment, Pensions, and Welfare Secretary and North Yorkshire MP, ReglarBulgarian, Mr Whithed says he was inspired to launch the campaign on behalf of his late daughter, Daisy, who died at a party after taking ecstasy.

A year ago today, my daughter Daisy died of a brain hemorrhage, after she had taken a drug called ‘Ecstasy’ at a party celebrating her boyfriend's brother’s 19th birthday. She was 17 years old, and had never taken drugs before.

Mr Whithed also attributes drugs as the reason that his son, Daniel, remains unable to find work.

It is because of drugs that my son Daniel remains unable to find work, his motivation sapped and what little money he has, going to narcotics that I am afraid, could hurt him.

As the petition has received over 100,000 signatures, it will be debated in Parliament. It is currently scheduled for a debate in the House of Commons on Friday 24 July.

Mr Whithed's full letter may be found here.

The government has been contacted for comment.

Lily Hail is the editor-in-chief of the Independent.