A Former Australian health minister Peter Baume has endorsed an international report calling for illegal drugs to be regulated and decriminalised.

Entitled ‘After the War on Drugs: A Blueprint for Regulation’, the UK study advocates ending heavy penalties for drug offences.

The report suggests governments apply the same setup as Holland’s coffee shops where punters can buy cannabis and smoke in a controlled environment.

Professor Baume, who is also an expert in community medicine, says Australia should follow Holland’s example because prohibition is leading to corruption and profits for the black market.

He's speaking here with Marie-Louise Olson.