The leader of the Green Party says he wants to legalise all drugs, including class A substances like heroin and crack cocaine, calling for an approach “led by public health experts, not politicians”.
Speaking to BBC South East ahead of his party conference in Bournemouth, Zack Polanski said he agreed with a Kent Green councillor who earlier this year called for the legalisation of all drugs.
Polanski, who was elected leader of the Green Party of England and Wales in September with 85 per cent of the vote, said “the war on drugs has absolutely failed, and ultimately we need to be having a public health approach”.
Taxpayer Costs Defended
When asked about implications of this radical policy for the taxpayer, the Green leader argued the public was already paying for current drug policy failures.
Well, I think voters are having to pay right now for a crime that happens, for the fact that people are in the illegal drug markets, for gangs that we see across county lines,” Polanski responded.
“All of this is a failure of the fact that, again, for far too long, Prime Ministers have stuck their heads in their sand and said, if we just make drugs illegal, everything’s going to be okay.”
First Conference Under New Leadership
The Green Party of England and Wales is gathering in Bournemouth this weekend for their first autumn conference under a new leadership team which also consists of deputy co-leaders Mothin Ali and Rachel Millward, the current deputy leader of Wealden District Council.
The conference, running from Friday 3 October to Sunday 5 October at the Bournemouth International Centre, marks Polanski’s first major gathering as party leader since his landslide victory last month.
The party has seen growing success in local council elections in parts of Kent, Sussex and Surrey in recent years, including in previously Conservative-voting areas like Wealden, Reigate and Maidstone.
‘Eco-Populist’ Approach
Modelling himself as an “eco-populist” during the recent leadership election, Polanski was seen to have a more radical, left-wing approach than his predecessors.
It was argued by his opponents that this might alienate the more moderate, former Conservative party voters who had turned to the party over issues like protecting green spaces from housebuilding.
The leader rejected this idea when speaking to BBC South East, arguing his policies address everyday concerns facing voters.
I think the radical thing for people in the South East is the fact that their wages have not gone up, but their bills have gone up, the fact that they can’t get an NHS dentist appointment,” he said.
“The fact that it feels like there’s no real future or opportunities for young people. So I don’t actually think what I’m offering is radical. What I’m offering, I think can appeal to almost everybody.”
Party’s Drug Policy Stance
The Green Party has long been the most progressive UK political party on drug policy reform, supporting harm reduction approaches and regulated markets. However, Polanski’s explicit support for legalising all drugs, including the most harmful class A substances, represents a significant escalation of this position.
His stance goes beyond mere decriminalisation or police discretion around low-level possession. Full legalisation would contemplate regulated supply, taxation, product safety controls and routes for businesses and patients to operate without fear of criminal sanctions.
As a member of the London Assembly, Polanski had previously supported Mayor Sadiq Khan’s calls for a pilot decriminalisation trial in the capital, but his latest comments confirm support for complete legalisation across all drug categories.
Growing Party Membership
Since Polanski’s election as leader on 2 September, the Green Party has seen a surge in membership. The party confirmed it had reached 80,000 members by early October, up from around 65,000 earlier in the year, in what some have described as a “Polanski surge”.
The 42-year-old London Assembly member has promised a more combative style of politics, directly targeting both Labour and Reform UK. He has stated the party’s goal is to win 30 MPs at the next general election, up from their current four seats.
Polanski was recently named in Time Magazine’s 2025 100 Next list, recognising him as one of the world’s most influential rising stars.
Conference Agenda
The weekend’s conference will feature speeches from Polanski and deputy leaders, alongside panels on climate adaptation, attacks on protest rights, and strategies to counter Reform UK.
A live recording of Polanski’s podcast “Bold Politics” with Owen Jones is also scheduled for Saturday, whilst members will debate and vote on party policy motions throughout the weekend.
The drug legalisation policy is likely to prove one of the most controversial topics for discussion, particularly as the party seeks to maintain its appeal to both radical progressives and moderate former Conservative voters concerned about local environmental issues.
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Image Credit:
Zack Polanski — photo by unknown / via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0
