With the tide of legalisation spreading across the globe, why is the United Kingdom lagging behind and will we ever see cannabis legalised?
Current Legal Status of Cannabis in the UK
Although it does not remain a top priority for police in the UK, cannabis is still a Class-B drug and arrest can result in a 5 year jail term if prosecuted. Even though studies have shown that harsher punishments do not lead to lower levels of drug use, the government reclassified cannabis to a Class-B drug after a five year stint as a less dangerous Class-C drug.
Governmental Attitudes Towards Legalisation
The fact that this reclassification came after a study, carried out by the government, suggested not raising it, shows that the UK is still miles behind when it comes to Cannabis.
Its laughable to think that a government riddled with pedophiles has the audacity to tell us what we can and cant put into our own bodies even though they are probably putting unwanted things into underage boys.
Role of Small Political Parties in Cannabis Reform
With neither Labour or the Conservatives showing any signs of backing legalisation it could very well fall to the smaller parties such as the Lib Dems and the Greens to use the current political situation to push through cannabis reform.
The Lib Dems support decriminalization, however the Greens support a regulated cannabis market which would bring in social and economic benefits for the country. With the very real chance that no major party could win a majority at the next election it would result in one of the smaller parties being ‘kingmakers’ per say.
With the major parties needing the support from smaller parties in a coalition, cannabis reform could be bought to the forefront of political conversation.
Before I get carried away with the idea that the Lib Dems could push through positive cannabis reform we must remember that the Lib Dems are in fact spineless cowards. If they did get a say in anything i’m sure they would quickly forget any pre-election promises.
However after Labour returned to the left of the political spectrum with the appointment of Jeremy Corbyn as leader we could see a shift in policy with regards to cannabis. The Conservatives know this so may also have to make changes to their cannabis policy as they would risk losing the majority of the young vote to a re-energized Labour campaign.
Cannabis reform may be the only way for the tories to stop the flow of support for Labours left wing leader, as at the moment the tories offer very little that interests the idealistic youth.
Smaller groups such as Cannabis is Safer Than Alcohol (CISTA) have also been pushing for cannabis reform, they have been echoing the social and economic benefits that Colorado has experienced after the regulation of the cannabis market, they did not win any seats at the last election, however they are providing a strong voice for the movement.
Public and Political Figures’ Perspectives
Many MP’s such as Jeremy Corbyn, David Cameron and Andy Burnham have all admitted to smoking cannabis in their youth. Luckily for them they were not caught and prosecuted meaning that they could go on to be MP’s and not face the struggle of trying to get a job / place at university with a criminal record.
Not everyone is as lucky as them and it is infuriating that even though they are now in a position of power they do nothing to try and stop young people being branded as criminals just because they choose to smoke a plant every now and then.
Conclusion
The debate around cannabis legalization in the UK continues to evolve, with shifting governmental attitudes and growing public support. While challenges remain, especially from conservative elements within the government, the economic and social arguments for legalization gain traction, paralleled by global trends and successful models in other countries. The future of cannabis legalization in the UK seems to hinge on political will and public advocacy, suggesting that change, while not immediate, may be on the horizon.
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