The Ministers taking part in the VIth Conference of European Ministers of Justice,

Seriously concerned with the phenomenon of drug misuse as it appears in member States;

Aware that the complex nature of the problems presented calls for carefully considered action both nationally and internationally;

Believing that international collaboration is essential for control of the misuse of drugs and that this collaboration should be extended to cover all dangerous drugs;

Convinced that, to the extent that there is recourse to the criminal law in the matter of drug misuse, it is desirable that the member States of the Council of Europe should seek to arrive at common understandings on which policy and practice can be based;

Having taken note of the report presented by the Danish Minister of Justice;

Welcoming the fact that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has already instructed the European Committee on Crime Problems to study penal aspects of the misuse of drugs;

Recognizing that the problems posed and the knowledge available are liable to change and that governments often have to take rapid decisions about the control of drug misuse;

Believing that in view of the foregoing consideration should be given to placing the question of drug misuse on the agenda of the next Conference of Ministers of Justice;

that the Committee of Ministers request the European Committee on Crime Problems:

1. to give careful consideration to the possibility of a policy which takes account of the following principles;

2. A distinction should be made between less harmful forms of misuse and other activites which tend to encourage misuse and create significant social problems;

2. to study whether distinctions between the various types of drug should be made according to their dangerousness and reflected in the criminal law provisions.