A broad coalition of scientists, politicians and celebrities has today called on the Government to join global efforts to end the failed ‘war on drugs’ and commit to an urgent review of the UK’s outdated drug laws.

In an open letter to The Times newspaper, public figures including Sir Richard Branson, Sting, Russell Brand, Dame Joan Bakewell and Sir Ian Gilmore, former president of the Royal College of Physicians, highlight the £3bn spent by the taxpayer on a drug policy which “does little to address the root causes of addiction and pointlessly criminalises people”.

The initiative, led by Green MP Caroline Lucas, has attracted cross party backing in Parliament from Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East and chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee (Labour), Zac Goldsmith,MP for Richmond Park (Conservative), Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge (Liberal Democrat) and Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West (Labour).

The Times letter comes as foreign ministers from Latin America gather to discuss a new drug policy report described as ‘game changing’ at a summit of the Organisation of American States in Guatemala.

Meanwhile a Home Affairs Select Committee report being debated in Westminster today warns that Government action is needed "now, more than ever" to consider all the alternatives – and to learn from countries that have adopted more evidence-based drug policies.

The letter to The Times states:

"Worldwide there is growing recognition that the 'war on drugs' has failed – having cost billions of dollars and caused tens of thousands of deaths.

"In the UK, scientists, politicians, lawyers and police increasingly agree that we need to review existing policy, which costs taxpayers £3 billion a year but does little to address the root causes of addiction and pointlessly criminalises people.

"By agreeing to an independent review to determine whether the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is effective or good value for money, the Government can prove its willingness to acknowledge failures within existing policy – and join in the global effort towards an alternative strategy based on evidence."

ENDS

The full list of signatories:

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion

Sir Richard Branson, Global Commission onDrug Policy

Sting, musician

Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East, Home Affairs Select Committee

Dame Joan Bakewell

Professor David Nutt, Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs

Sir Ian Gilmore,former President of Royal College of Physicians

Dame Ruth Runciman, UK Drug Policy Commission

Mike Trace, International Drug Policy Consortium

Russell Brand, actor and comedian

Zac Goldsmith,MP for Richmond Park 

Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge

Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West

Niamh Eastwood, Release

Danny Kushlick, Transform

Lord Rea

Baroness Butler-Sloss

Lord Dholakia

Lord Ramsbotham