Norman Lamb says the war on drugs has 'failed' and it's time to stop pouring billions into the pockets of violent criminal gangs.
His dramatic pledge shows just how much the Lib Dems are distancing themselves after Coalition from the Tories - whose new legal highs bill will ban almost everything.
There'll be a 'guilty until proven innocent' rule on new substances and a seven-year jail term under the law, which is so powerful it's having to exclude coffee and alcohol.
Mr Lamb claims he is the first would-be leader of a 'major political party' to publicly support legalising the drug.
He wants the drug regulated and taxed as Britain copies Portugal's stance on drugs, decriminalising possession and turning addicts from criminals into patients.
Just like with 1920s alcohol prohibition in the US, he says the law has been a 'spectacular failure' and there needs to be 'more rigorous and intensive support to get people off drugs'.
Mr Lamb added: "As a parent, I don’t want my children taking drugs. No parent does. But we have to accept that our current approach isn’t working.
"Instead of wasting money on an ineffective international crusade, we should be investing in addiction services that actually help people.
“Those who question the status quo are frequently branded as dangerous and soft on crime.
(Daily Mirror)
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