Make heroin legal, say cannabis MPs

David Blunkett's drugs strategy came under more pressure today as Labour MPs called for hard narcotics - including heroin - to be legalised.

The demand came from the same backbenchers who successfully fought for the downgrading of cannabis possession to a nonarrestable offence.

It will embarrass the Home Secretary, who faces accusations that his cannabis policy has opened the door for Britain's drugs laws to be dismantled piece by piece.

Newport West MP Paul Flynn, who led the campaign to legalise pot, said all drugs should be sold under licence in a step-by-step process of wholesale legalisation. "I am advocating harmreduction by a series of incremental steps," he said. "David Blunkett has had the courage to face down ignorance and take the first step."

Mr Flynn said the rise in heroin abuse from 1,000 registered addicts to about 250,000 in recent years showed that simply declaring the drug illegal had no effect.

Instead, it drove addicts into the arms of pushers who targeted teenagers and supplied dangerously impure versions of the drug.

"The market for drugs is not going to go away," he said. "We all aim to reduce the harm inflicted by drugs - but the most harmful way is by prohibition. The only way is to remove the black market run by criminal gangs. The only way to do that is to replace it with a licensed trade which is policed and stringently inspected."

Asked if heroin should be sold under licence, he said: "You can work out the steps for yourself. Once David Blunkett goes along this path of discovery, he will find that what happened in Amsterdam and other countries has reduced harm to young people."

He was joined by Brian Iddon, Labour MP for Bolton South East, who said it was wrong to imprison people for misusing drugs, including heroin.

He also called for the full legalisation of cannabis. He said: "This small step forward is to be applauded. My anxiety, however, is that cannabis-users still have to go to criminals for supplies. I do not believe prohibition of drugs works. I am talking about all drugs. I would rather we treated people who use drugs as sick rather than put them in jail."

The calls infuriated allies of Mr Blunkett, who has come under fire for announcing that most cannabis-users will not be prosecuted though the drug will remain illegal. One aide said: "This campaign does not stand a snowball in Hell's chance."

Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin accused Mr Blunkett of a muddled policy. "He must be careful not to let the whole drugs issue spin out of control."