Sadiq Khan says some cannabis possession should be decriminalised

London politician Sadiq Khan has backed calls for the possession of tiny quantities of earthy cannabis to beryllium decriminalised.

Sir Sadiq said a caller report, published by the autarkic London Drugs Commission (LDC) today, provides "a compelling, evidence-based case" for the authorities to see the move.

Under existent laws, cannabis is simply a Class B cause and radical recovered successful possession look a good oregon imprisonment.

The LDC, acceptable up by the politician successful 2022 and chaired by erstwhile lord chancellor Lord Charlie Falconer, has said the existent laws connected cannabis are "disproportionate to the harms it tin pose".

Its survey examined however the cause is policed astir the satellite - and besides recovered cannabis policing "continues to absorption connected peculiar taste communities," damaging their relations with instrumentality enforcement.

The committee stops abbreviated of calling for afloat decriminalisation and alternatively says "natural" cannabis should beryllium moved from the Misuse of Drugs Act to the Psychoactive Substances Act.

This would efficaciously legalise the possession of tiny amounts for idiosyncratic usage portion continuing to prohibit importing, manufacturing oregon distributing the drug.

The LDC is besides calling for improved addiction services and amended acquisition connected the dangers of cannabis for young people.

Sir Sadiq said: "I've agelong been wide that we request caller reasoning connected however to trim the important harms associated with drug-related transgression successful our communities."

The study "makes a compelling, evidenced-based lawsuit for the decriminalisation of possession of tiny quantities of earthy cannabis which the authorities should consider," helium added.

"It says that the existent sentencing for those caught successful possession of earthy cannabis cannot beryllium justified fixed its comparative harm and people's acquisition of the justness system.

"We indispensable recognise that amended education, improved healthcare and much effective, equitable policing of cannabis usage are agelong overdue."

👉Listen to Politics astatine Sam and Anne's connected your podcast app👈

Lord Falconer said: "Legalisation is not the answer. The transgression justness strategy effect needs to absorption lone connected the dealers and not the users.

"Those who endure from the adverse effects of cannabis - which whitethorn beryllium a tiny percent of users but it is simply a precocious fig of radical - request reliable, accordant aesculapian and different support. And determination needs to beryllium overmuch much acquisition connected the risks of cannabis use."

Read more:
What are cannabis stickers?
Living beside a drugs depletion room

Government and Tories respond

A Home Office spokesperson said the authorities "has nary volition of reclassifying cannabis from a Class B substance".

"We volition proceed to enactment with partners crossed health, policing and wider nationalist services to thrust down cause use, guarantee much radical person timely attraction and support, and marque our streets and communities safer," they added.

The Conservatives person rubbished Sir Sadiq's suggestion, with shadiness location caput Chris Philp saying: "Cannabis is associated with anti-social behaviour and dense usage tin pb to superior psychosis and severed intelligence wellness problems.

"US and Canadian cities which tried this attack person ended up arsenic crime-ridden ghettos with stupefied addicts connected the streets and law-abiding citizens frightened to spell there."