Updated

One of Britain’s most senior doctors has proposed that legalizing hard drugs like cocaine and heroin could “drastically” decrease public health problems and crime, the Telegraph reported.

Professor Sir Ian Gilmore said he thinks that drug laws should be reconsidered and state regulations allowing these drugs could save money by eliminating the need to try and stop drug production in other countries like Afghanistan.

Gilmore, who is the former president of the Royal College of Physicians, said in a valedictory message to colleagues that banning drugs has increased organized crime and terrorism.

“There’s a lot of evidence that the total prohibition of drugs, making them totally illicit and unavailable, has not been successful at reducing not only the health burden, but also the impact on crime,” he said.

Click here to read more from the Telegraph.