COMMISSIONS (ROYAL AND OTHER) ON DRUG MISUSE - WHO NEEDS THEM

In the context of current calls in the United Kingdom for a Royal Comm ission on drugs, the political antecedents and consequences of nine ma jor commissions of enquiry into drugs established by governments in th e English-speaking world during the last 100 years are described toget her with available information on their modus operandi and costs. The different interest groups calling for reform of UK drug laws are descr ibed and the broad basis on which a putative Royal Commission might pr oceed is suggested. Finally, analysis of previous commissions is used to identify factors likely to lead to a new Commission having a substa ntial influence on government policy on drugs.