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Decriminalising growing-your-own cannabis is key to a fairer society Tamara Krivskaya Green Queen Magazine Tuesday 19 Oct 2021 If Italians vote ‘yes’ next year, households in Italy will be allowed to grow up to four plants. Mario Perantoni, president of the Chamber’s Justice Commission, said: “The cultivation of hemp at home is essential for patients who have to make therapeutic use of it and who often do not find it available as well as to combat the sale and the consequent criminal undergrowth.” Last week, Maltese reforms minister Owen Bonnici announced that households will be allowed to grow up to four plants, so long as they are not visible to the public. As European countries relax regulation, the UK is frustratingly reluctant to follow suit. But why is it so important that it does? Why is the UK lagging behind? Despite its legal status, the prohibitively high costs of private medical cannabis prescriptions mean many patients struggle to afford their medication in the UK. Allowing cultivation for personal use would be an easy solution. Of course, it would also mean big pharmaceutical companies would lose out on major profits. Currently, the balance of power is skewed – a seesaw seating one person. ‘Big Pharma’ makes billions growing cannabis for medical purposes. But if somebody wants to grow their own, they risk prosecution. Cultivation would transform patient access One story which highlights this importance is that of Kevin, from Bexleyheath. Kevin has severe diverticulitis, a condition bought on by a prescribed painkiller, diclofenac. He uses cannabis to manage his chronic pain, while also caring for his disabled wife, Tina. “At one point my weight went down from 8st 10lb to under 7st because I couldn’t eat. The pills were making me so ill,” Kevin told GQM. “Painkillers need to be prescribed in combination with the correct nutrition because you are what you eat. And growing your own food and medicine is the solution.” And it’s not just about the cost. Their legal cannabis supplier have repeatedly let Kevin and Tina down. Products are often delayed. Often the quality is poor or defective. The couple believes their quality of life would dramatically improve if they were able to grow their own medicine. Cannabis cultivation has mental health benefits Kevin also noted that growing your own can good for mental well-being in and of itself. “Learning a new skill set is positive and creates its own sense of purpose. It then gives you goals you can set while growing and learning. It’s fun going into a grow room and tending to the plants. It’s your medicine, you’re going to make it the best it can be.” Gardening and growing your own produce has many health benefits. The Royal Horticultural Society says growing food and gardening can reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and give many a sense of purpose in life. There is no reason why this shouldn’t extend to the cultivation of cannabis. It’s always political Most mainstream political parties in the UK shy away from addressing the topic of decriminalising cannabis in general, let alone cultivation for personal use. However, one UK party has explicitly spoken out in support of decriminalising the cultivation of cannabis for personal use. The Green Party’s manifesto explicitly talks about establishing Cannabis Social Clubs, similar to those in operation in Spain. The UK criminal justice system Dr. Gary Potter, a criminology lecturer and expert in UK drug law, also believes that decriminalising cultivation would have benefits for the UK criminal justice system. “Most cannabis users are otherwise law-abiding citizens – to criminalise these people has always done more harm than good. It also frees up criminal justice resources for tackling more serious crimes,” Dr Potter told GQM. “Legalising home-growing means that users can get their supplies without having to interact with ‘real’ criminals and drug-dealers. This would, in turn, undermine the illegal market, reducing the potential profits that professional and organised criminals can make from dealing cannabis.” It is clear that simply decriminalising consumption is not enough. It must go hand-in-hand with decriminalising cultivation for personal use, if we are to create a fair and ethical cannabis market where the interests of patients come first. To read more about the injustice of criminalising GYO, here’s the story of the 81-year-old criminalised for growing his own medication. https://greenqueenmagazine.com/social-voice/decriminalising-growing-your-own-cannabis-is-key-to-a-fairer-society/?fbclid=IwAR0J7FvZZwIHI_1a9dAGxMk9NAhxDQTqLOR_Rq5R1g95QwgnVpcLCV-irkg
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