Richard Branson wants Australia to decriminalise drugs

Sir Richard Branson's pushing for drug decriminalisation in Australia.

The Virgin boss caused slight controversy in October, sharing details of an apparent United Nations document pushing for worldwide drug reformation, and he's now called on Aussie Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to switch the focus from criminalisation to treatment.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Branson, who's a commissioner for the Global Commission on Drug Policy, said: "Drug use should be treated as a health issue, not as a crime. While the vast majority of recreational drug users never experience any problems, people who struggle with drug addiction deserve access to treatment, not a prison cell."

He made the submission to the federal government's National Ice Taskforce (NIT), an organisation tackling the use of methamphetamine in the country, also stating that a new legislation, alongside focusing of harm-reduction and drug education, could "save lives".

Although he wrote to the PM last month, his comments surfaced after the release of a new report by the taskforce, revealing that $300 million was being injected into treatment services.

Branson's got support, too, with three Australian MPs calling for the same reformation in a country that apparently takes the most ecstasy pills.

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter

[Photo: MDMA-Team]