Straw backs re-examining drug laws

The growing calls for a Royal Commission to examine Britain's 40-year-old drug laws were backed today by a former Home Secretary.

Jack Straw insisted he did not support the decriminalisation of soft drugs, such as cannabis, but said he believed the time had come to re-examine whether current legislation was effective.

His comments came after Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, became the first member of the Government to support the establishment of a Royal Commission. Mr Straw said he was worried decriminalisation would lead to higher levels of drug use – and therefore abuse and harm.