ONE of the UK's biggest charities has called for Portuguese-style laws to decriminalise all drugs under new devolution powers.

Addaction believes treating addiction as a medical problem rather than a criminal one would help wean Scotland off its long-standing dependency culture.

The charity believes Portugal, which treats rather than punishes users while continuing to punish dealers, makers and importers, has led the way while the UK is committed to prohibition.

Andrew Horne, director of operations, Addaction Scotland, writing in today's Herald, said: "Though there are still some legislators across the UK who favour the 'war on drugs' - it's becoming increasingly clear that the majority of the population understand that this 'war' can never be won. That certainly doesn't mean we should give up - it means the exact opposite, focus on what the evidence suggests really works. That is high quality treatment."

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations has also called for drugs laws to be devolved under the current Smith Commission looking at new powers after this year's failed indepedendence referendum.

Most parties are reluctant to rule anything in or out ahead of talks, although unionist politicians are understood to be sceptical a separate enforcement regime could work in Scotland.

Some campaigners believe Scotland, while trying to co-ordinate with the UK and Eire, could pioneer alternative policies.

The SNP's Christine Grahame, who chairs the Holyrood Justice Committee, said: "It would be worth having a debate on decriminalising cannabis." Some 60,000 Scots are problem drug users, say estimates.