The 2010 Alliance Party Conference took place on 23^rd January and was very well attended, especially by members of Alliance Youth.

Among the motions discussed was one by Alliance Youth.

Conference notes that the UK government has on a number of occasions over-ruled its own medical and professional advice to retain a more punitive drugs policy. Conference condemns the emotionalism and hysteria, generated by both politicians and the media, which has too often characterised the debate on drugs policy. Conference calls for a new Northern Ireland drugs strategy, based on evidence rather than fear.

In proposing the motion, David Murphy from QUB Alliance said

The House of Commons select committee on Science and Technology has “expressed concern at the Government’s proclivity for using the classification system as a means of ‘sending out signals’” They went on to say that using the drug classification system like this “is at odds with the stated objective of classifying drugs on the basis of harm”. The government needs to realise that policy is made based on the evidence, not the other way round.

The motion was seconded by Graham Scobie who referred a number of the social aspects of drugs policy.

The motion was passed overwhelmingly following a short debate.

ENDS