By Drugs Commission to look at legalising cannabis in the UK
London mayor Sadiq Khan has created a new group to look into whether cannabis should be legalised in the UK.
Former justice secretary Lord Charlie Falconer QC will chair the first-ever London Drugs Commission after Mr Khan described his visit to a cannabis dispensary in California as “fascinating”.
However, Home Secretary Priti Patel said Mr Khan was wasting his time as he “has no powers to legalise drugs”.
Labour also said in a statement the party does not support changing the law on drugs.
According to a parliamentary report, the main drug offence recorded in England and Wales last year was “possession of cannabis”.
Cannabis is currently classed as a class B drug in the UK, with a maximum sentence of five years in prison for possession.
In 1996, marijuana became medicinally available in California and now 20 years later you can possess, use, grow and gift the narcotic.
In 2018 the state announced that citizens could buy and sell it recreationally for the first time.
Mr Khan said: “We need to have an honest, open conversation about the evidence in relation to the history of cannabis and our laws in the UK and our experience of the health consequences in relation to crime and the community.
“The best way to do that will be with the drugs commission we’ve now set up.
“You can hear from the experts, that’s one thing, but seeing it for yourself … hearing from those who cultivate and grow this plant has been fascinating.”
Once the group completed its work, the commission will make recommendations to City Hall, the government, the police, the criminal justice system and public health services.
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