3 December 2007
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to safeguard the public from the risks of inappropriate use of cannabis by bringing its control and sales within the law."
Details of Petition:
"Safeguarding the public from the risks of inappropriate use of cannabis by bringing its control and sales within the law is in line with the government’s new information campaign "the more you mess with cannabis, the more it could mess with your mind". This regulation would be supporting both the specific health risks and specific benefits of the drug and protect the most vulnerable who are at present at the mercy of the illegal market. The current information campaign also states "cannabis smokers can’t be sure what they are getting" - regulation would include quality control, information about strength, as well as clear guidelines about safest use and specific risks, in particular for young people and those with a psychotic illness. Moreover, strict licencing laws would put responsiblity onto adults not to sell to children, and anyone selling to under 18s, for instance, would be prosecuted."
Read the Government’s response
The Government has no intention of legalising cannabis and regulating its control. In response to the Home Affairs Committee report on The Government’s Drugs Policy: Is It Working? in 2002, it stated that "We do not accept that legalisation and regulation is now, or will be in the future, an acceptable response to the presence of drugs" and that includes cannabis. Supply and possession of the drug are and will remain illegal.
The Government considers that cannabis is a controlled, illicit drug for good reasons. It has a number of acute and chronic health effects and prolonged use can induce dependence. Most cannabis is smoked and smoking, in any form, is dangerous. Even the occasional use of cannabis can pose significant dangers for people with mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, and particular efforts need to be made to encourage abstinence in such individuals.
Legalising cannabis would run counter to this country’s international obligations as a signatory to the relevant United Nations Conventions on drugs and there is no prospect of unilateral action.
Legalisation would also run counter to the Government’s health and education messages. The message to all - and to young people in particular - is that all controlled drugs, including cannabis, are harmful and no one should take them. To legalise the possession of cannabis for personal consumption would send the wrong message to the majority of young people who do not take drugs on a regular basis, if at all, with the potential risk of increased drug use and abuse.
The Government’s objective is to reduce the use of all illegal drugs - including cannabis - substantially, not to encourage increased consumption due to more ready access to increased supply. While our drugs laws cannot be expected to eliminate drug use, there is no doubt that they do help to limit use and deter experimentation.
The Prime Minister announced on 18 July that, as part of the consultation to review its drug strategy, the Government will also consider whether it is now right that cannabis should be moved from Class C back to Class B under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
There is real public concern about the potential mental health effects of cannabis use and, in particular, the use and availability of increased strengths of the drug, commonly known as skunk. In these circumstances, the Government is considering whether it is necessary to toughen the penalties relating to cannabis possession to complement its education and treatment programmes.
The Home Secretary has therefore asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which advises the Government on drug issues, to again assess the medical and social scientific basis of the classification of cannabis. This review will take into account the fact that there are stronger forms of cannabis that may cause more harm.
The Government will consider carefully the Advisory Council’s findings, expected next spring, before making a final decision that will be consistent with its aim of reducing the harm caused by drugs and ensuring that people - and especially young people - are well aware of all the risks.