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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Evening Standard comment: Sensible call for a fresh look at our cannabis law
Evening Standard Friday 01 Nov 2019 Mr Khan, who last year said he was “not persuaded” by calls for liberalisation of the law, now suggests that changing public attitudes and the link between the “county lines” drug trade and violent crime mean there should be a reassessment of the current prohibition on recreational use and the corresponding absence of legal routes via which cannabis can be bought. This shift of position is sensible and the Mayor’s stance now mirrors that of this paper, which has used articles over recent months to highlight the pros and cons of a change in the law in our own attempt to promote public and political debate on this issue. The arguments in favour of legalising the provision of cannabis via licensed outlets and decriminalising its consumption are, of course, attractive to many. They include the ability to control the strength of the cannabis supplied via legal routes and the prospect of generating significant tax revenues from its sale. Similarly appealing is the notion that criminals could be denied a chance to profit from selling cannabis. But the reason further detailed consideration is needed, as both this newspaper and now Mr Khan advocate, is that the evidence remains mixed from places overseas, such as Canada, where the cannabis laws have already been relaxed. The charity Transform reports, for example, that about half of cannabis consumed in Canada, where legal cannabis outlets were introduced last year, is still bought via the black market as users seek cheaper, stronger or more conveniently available supplies. It points out that overall consumption of cannabis — which can have damaging psychological effects — has risen slightly too. Nor is the argument that crime would reduce necessarily correct. Leaving aside the likely continued existence of a demand for illegal cannabis, those who want to make money from crime would be likely to switch to either selling different, more potent, drugs, or other types of potentially lucrative offending. Nonetheless, the cannabis debate must be had and, if the evidence turns out to show net benefits, then politicians should not be afraid to act. Pragmatism should prevail because the right policy in this area will save suffering and lives. https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/evening-standard-comment-sensible-call-for-a-fresh-look-at-our-cannabis-law-a4276311.html
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