Should Cannabis Be Decriminalised?
In recent years, over 30 nations, including Portugal and Germany, along with several states in the US, have decriminalised or fully legalised the recreational use of cannabis. Is it time for London to follow suit?
According to Esther Addley in The Guardian, Mayor Sadiq Khan thinks it is. Recently, he backed the recommendations from the London Drugs Commission, chaired by Labour peer Charlie Falconer, which suggested that possessing small amounts of natural cannabis should be decriminalised (under this proposed change, individuals involved in production or distribution would still be violating the law).
The report indicated that existing regulations were squandering police resources and damaging relationships between law enforcement and the community. In 2024, statistics revealed that Black individuals are four times more likely to be stopped and searched compared to their white counterparts, yet they are not any more likely to possess cannabis.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner dismissed the proposal, stating that the Government has no intention of easing cannabis laws. However, as noted by Tom Calver in The Sunday Times, many cannabis-related offenses have effectively been "quietly decriminalised" in various regions; for instance, only 9% of those apprehended with the drug in the Thames Valley face charges, while in Norfolk, the figure is about a third. Whether formalising this approach is beneficial remains a debatable point.
In 2001, Lambeth police commander Brian Paddick conducted a brief experiment allowing officers to issue cautions instead of arrests for individuals found with small amounts of cannabis. Although this saved considerable police time, allowing officers to target more serious drugs, it led to a one-third rise in cannabis offenses as dealers flooded the area. A subsequent study suggested that the overall well-being of local residents likely declined during that time. NHS psychiatrist Max Pemberton, who frequently witnesses the adverse effects of cannabis, expressed in the Daily Mail that he believes Khan's push to relax the law is misguided.
One study indicated that cannabis is responsible for about a third of psychosis cases in London. Pemberton argued that if the law is to be relaxed, it should be fully legalised to facilitate taxation and regulation, ensuring the potency of the drug is monitored. He contended that Khan's proposal creates the worst situation by maintaining cannabis's illegal status while signalling that users would not face penalties, ultimately fostering disrespect for the law.
The discussion surrounding cannabis decriminalisation is reignited due to a report from the London Drugs Commission, which argues that possessing small quantities of the drug should not be illegal. Chaired by Lord Charlie Falconer, the LDC found that existing laws are "disproportionate to the harms it can pose." Nick Housden, a former Conservative County councillor and public health cabinet member for Stonehouse, holds strong opinions on this matter. He argues in favour of legalising Class B drugs.
If I told you there’s a policy that could save the UK billions, assist the police, dismantle criminal drug networks, generate tax revenue for essential public services, and even make cannabis use safer, you might think I was out of my mind. Or, depending on your preferred tabloid, you might assume I was under the influence. Yet here I am—completely sober—asserting that legalising cannabis is not only logical but also overdue. It’s frankly absurd that we’re still debating this as if it’s a radical concept. Currently, the UK government spends billions fighting a losing battle against cannabis—a battle it was never destined to win. You’re witnessing this failure, and you’re footing the bill.
Let’s examine the figures. The UK spends approximately £1.6 billion annually on drug law enforcement, a significant portion directed towards cannabis-related issues. Even more alarming is the £5.5 billion squandered in our courts dealing with these so-called "crimes." That totals £7.1 billion each year—resources spent on police time, court expenses, and prison accommodations to pursue individuals who are often simply trying to unwind without resorting to alcohol.
Moreover, the current approach yields no tangible results; cannabis is readily accessible in every town and city across the UK. The only distinction is that, under the current regime, it’s sold by illicit dealers rather than regulated businesses, leaving users unaware of what they are purchasing. It’s easier for schoolchildren to obtain cannabis than it is to buy a can of cider, a practice I occasionally engaged in myself! Meanwhile, our government is cutting back on essential support like PIP and winter fuel payments for working families.
Ministers are quick to reclaim £300 from a needy pensioner, yet they have no qualms about squandering £10 billion on relinquishing the Chagos Islands, only to rent them back like fools at a questionable timeshare meeting. Picture this: what if we changed the narrative? By legalizing cannabis, implementing sensible taxation, and channelling the revenue into the services we are constantly told we “can’t afford.”
In the United States, states such as Colorado and California have generated billions through cannabis taxation—funds that are used for healthcare, education, and even addiction services. It's not surprising that in the Netherlands, their approach to cannabis legalization has resulted in relatively low hard drug usage compared to other nations, as they can focus their resources on combating it rather than wasting time on cannabis enforcement. We could replicate this model. Instead, we are incarcerating individuals and allowing the profits from Britain’s flourishing cannabis market to flow directly to criminal organizations. That seems logical.
Every year, tens of thousands of individuals in the UK face criminal charges for cannabis possession, which accounts for over a third of all drug offenses. These are not drug lords or cartel operatives; rather, they are often young, working-class individuals simply looking to relax on a Friday night. Consequently, they end up with criminal records that can disrupt their employment, travel opportunities, and even personal relationships. Meanwhile, the genuine criminals—organized networks trafficking in cocaine and meth, laundering money, and exploiting others—are profiting immensely.
Our police forces are caught in a bind: limited resources, decreasing personnel, and a surge in serious crime. Having worked alongside police and health officials as a councillor and later as the cabinet member for public health in Gloucestershire (my tenure was brief, but I lasted longer than Liz!), I witnessed the immense pressure they face. Officers are constantly stretched thin, addressing mental health emergencies, missing persons, knife crimes, and yes, cannabis users as well. If we removed cannabis from their responsibilities, they could concentrate on more pressing issues.
This isn’t radical; it’s simply common sense. A regulated cannabis market would significantly undermine the criminal gangs controlling the UK’s supply. To effectively challenge a black market, you need to outdo it in quality, price, and convenience. This strategy worked for tobacco and alcohol, and it could work for cannabis too. Moreover, we would generate substantial tax revenues.
Experts predict that the UK could potentially earn over £1 billion annually from legal cannabis, not even factoring in the savings from ceasing unnecessary law enforcement. That’s funding we could redirect toward reversing police budget cuts, enhancing mental health services, and repairing potholes. This discussion isn’t about promoting drug use; it’s about acknowledging reality. Estimates indicate that there are over 2.5 million active cannabis users in the UK.
The real question is whether we want them to obtain it from a gang leader in a hoodie or from a licensed, regulated shop with a receipt? According to former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan should prioritize tackling violent crime in the capital rather than advocating for cannabis decriminalization. Sir Iain is concerned about the repercussions of cannabis legalization in New York, claiming there is now a “persistent smog of cannabis across Manhattan.” He opposes the London Drugs Commission’s call for partial decriminalization.
Sir Iain argues that cannabis is a “harmful and addictive substance” associated with mental health issues ranging from anxiety and depression to psychosis and schizophrenia. The commission's report noted that while most users experience no significant adverse effects, “at least 10% risk developing associated difficulties of some kind.” In some instances, these can be “very significant” psychiatric, physical, or societal challenges, such as “failure to engage productively, or at all, with education or work, or to maintain interpersonal relationships.” It also acknowledged that drug treatment services are “overwhelmed” and “ill-equipped to handle any increase in demand that cannabis legalization might generate.”
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a think tank established by Sir Iain, warned last year that the UK is facing “a drug addiction crisis of unprecedented proportions, with drug poisoning fatalities reaching a record 5,448 in 2023”—an “84% increase over the past decade.” According to the CSJ, “two thirds (66%) of police officers believe cannabis is, for all practical purposes, fully or partially decriminalized.” Sir Iain expressed alarm over CSJ research findings that revealed devastation during a visit to the United States. In New York, where adults aged 21 and older can smoke or vape cannabis in most locations permitted for tobacco smoking, they observed “crack dealing happening in broad daylight right before our eyes.” He added that cannabis legalization has not eradicated the “illicit market,” stating that “old illegal dealers” are now providing “much stronger stuff.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London responded, saying, “The report from the London Drugs Commission presents a strong, evidence-backed argument advocating for the decriminalization of possessing small amounts of natural cannabis.”
Sadiq emphasizes that this represents an opportunity to address the issues highlighted in the report as a public health matter and to initiate a national conversation. This includes the urgent need for improved education regarding the risks and benefits of cannabis, as well as addressing the unequal effects that cannabis-related stop-and-search practices are having on Black communities in London and elsewhere in the UK. “We will be thoroughly examining these recommendations and will share the report’s insights with key stakeholders such as local authorities, the government, the Metropolitan Police, NHS London, and other health and educational partners to foster a safer and more equitable London for everyone.”
A representative from the Home Office stated: “We will continue collaborating with partners in health, policing, and broader public services to reduce drug use, ensure that more individuals receive prompt treatment and support, and enhance the safety of our streets and communities. The government does not plan to change the classification of cannabis as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.”
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