Text of amendments to drug policy motion accepted for debate.

Add at end
6. That the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs retain a majority of independent scientific and social scientific experts in its membership and that no changes to drug laws be made without receiving its advice as per the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act.

To be inserted after line 50 (as part of "Conference believes that"): "F. Issues such as housing, family and youth support, mental health and tackling unemployment and high inequality should not be overlooked as means of both averting problematic drug use and supporting recovery."

Explanatory note

Deprivation, homelessness, problems at home as a child, lack of social engagement etc. are all risk factors for drug problems and I think it's important for us to emphasise that the effects of even the best possible drug laws could be negated by failure in these other areas. Whether money would be better spent on these areas rather than on law enforcement and criminalising users is one of the things the 'panel' could consider, while the amendment also helps explain why we are calling for the high-quality provision of psychological and social services. Finally, I feel it underlines the message the Liberal Democrats - unlike certain other parties - are looking in a grown-up, evidence-based manner at the realities of the drugs trade and possible solutions.