UK: Let's celebrate 420 by legalising cannabis

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Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk

The Metro

Saturday 20 Apr 2019

Today people are light-heartedly celebrating 420 – a day which originated in America but now sees individuals celebrate the use of cannabis across the world. I recognise the potential value of cannabis use for those suffering in acute pain who, at present in this country, too often get prescribed highly addictive opioids on the NHS but have to break the law to get hold of cannabis. I also think it’s just stupid to criminalise people who use cannabis recreationally. The legalisation of cannabis in the UK is a cause that the Liberal Democrats passionately believe in. First of all, how can we continue to make life so difficult for those who benefit from its medicinal qualities? The stories of individuals’ suffering, such as that of Billy Caldwell who, age 12, ended up in hospital following serious epileptic seizures after the Home Office confiscated his cannabis oil, have appalled many of us. The public outcry last year led to the Home Office returning Billy’s cannabis oil. Then they announced that they would sanction the medicinal use of cannabis – but the rules have been drawn so tightly that only tiny numbers of people are actually benefiting.

In a heart-breaking incident earlier this month, Emma Appleby was left in tears as border officials seized the medicinal cannabis she was bringing back from the Netherlands for her severely epileptic daughter, Teagan. The Conservatives are guilty of a PR stunt to escape from a public furore but they have completely failed to embrace the case for real reform. When it comes to the question of the recreational use of cannabis, many Conservatives in government are guilty of awful hypocrisy. They will no doubt enjoy their drug of choice – alcohol – over the Easter weekend. Alcohol, according to scientists, is the most dangerous drug of all Witness the examples of awful violence on our streets as clubs turn out late at night or alcohol-fuelled domestic violence. And yet the Conservative cabinet is happy to criminalise others for using cannabis. Many of them have no doubt enjoyed the odd spliff at university but they seem happy to allow less fortunate people to end up with a criminal record. As they continue to plunge our country into chaos, ministers are more concerned with playing leadership games than working to ensure we have an approach based on evidence of what works.

Conservatives are blind to the rationale and logic behind the case for reform. Police forces right across the UK are clear that the war on cannabis simply isn’t working. We hand billions of pounds a year to organised crime. The treasury has estimated that taxing the sale of cannabis could raise up to £1bn. This is money that could be invested in our struggling public services; that could go straight into our NHS, police forces and our hard pressed schools. We fail to protect young people from harm and we stupidly criminalise people, blighting their careers. Regulating and controlling the market makes sense, rather than leaving it in the hands of criminals. What the Liberal Democrats propose is no longer a revolutionary idea. In the United States, 33 states have now legalised the medicinal use of cannabis. Several states have also legalised recreational use.

Canada has fully legalised both medicinal and recreational use of cannabis. Germany, which used to have some of the toughest drug laws in Europe, has also legalised medicinal use. In January, the World Health Organisation called for the re-designation of cannabis as ‘not particularly harmful’, showing that on a global scale there is a move to support what scientists have been saying for years. The Conservative government must stop the UK from lagging behind and introduce genuine progressive legislation that is based on the facts. As many light-heartedly celebrate using cannabis today, it is worth taking a moment to remember that for many people suffering in pain from a range of conditions, cannabis helps make life bearable, helps make life worth living. The time for real reform is long overdue.

What is 420: the meaning of weed day 420 is a slang term that refers to smoking cannabis on the 20th April, often at 4:20pm. Considered by many as International Weed Day. people come together to smoke and campaign for the legalisation of cannabis. In the UK, 420 traditionally takes place in Hyde Park and sees hundreds of people of all ages descend to smoke.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/20/lets-celebrate-420-legalising-cannabis-9268480/

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