International
UK: Landmark report proposes decriminalisation of cannabis possession, ban on searches and cannabis training for police
A report published by the Independent Commission on Drugs in London proposed decriminalizing the possession of cannabis for personal use in the UK, among other measures to fundamentally reform drug policy. The commission, set up by London Mayor Sadiq Khan in 2022, was led by Lord Charlie Falconer QC, a former Lord Chancellor, and involved experts in public health, criminal justice and human rights. The report is considered “historic”, it says. a Business of Cannabis.
According to Ben Stevens' article, published in Business of Cannabis, the report recommends a comprehensive set of 42 proposals aimed at modernising the UK’s approach to cannabis, prioritising public health and social equity.
Entitled "The Cannabis Conundrum“The report investigated the implications of the “non-medical” use of cannabis in London and the impact of current laws on society and the ongoing legal system in crisis. “The current law criminalises the import, export, production and supply of cannabis, with the potential for severe penalties. It also criminalises the possession of cannabis and, as such, we consider it to be unfit for its intended purpose,” it said.
Image taken from Ben Stevens' article in Business of Cannabis
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice, the number of individuals formally processed through the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales has increased by 4% to 1,52 million in 2024.
In this context, out-of-court orders (OOCDs), including sanctions for minor offences such as cannabis possession, increased by 5%, with cautions for cannabis and khat falling dramatically by 68%, while penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) decreased by 44%. Despite this fall, 37% of the 4.100 PNDs issued were specifically for cannabis possession, meaning that around 1.500 people received immediate fines for this offence.
As of 31 December 2024, the number of prisoners with cannabis-related offences recorded as their primary offence was 1.073, and the average annual cost of keeping an individual in prison is £51108 (€60959), totalling £55094424 per year (over €65 million).
Additional data suggests that 1,0% of magistrates’ court cases in the year to June 2024 (12429 defendants) in England and Wales were for cannabis possession offences. The estimated cost per day of hearings in these cases is approximately £1 million.
The report criticises the “severity of penalties” for cannabis-related offences, particularly possession. “The severity of penalties for related offences, particularly possession, is, in our view, disproportionately high.”
More specifically, it raises long-standing concerns about the disproportionate impact on ethnic minorities and the misuse of “stop and search” procedures.
“While they are more likely to be stopped and searched… black Londoners are not more likely to be found carrying the drug,” he suggested, adding that “the policing of cannabis, particularly through stop and search, continues to be focused on specific groups, with long-lasting and damaging consequences.”
What does the report “The Cannabis Conundrum” recommend?
Among the main recommendations is the end of the criminalization of people for possession of small amounts of cannabis, arguing that this practice has devastating effects, especially among young people from ethnic minorities and marginalized communities.
Another key recommendation of the report is to ban police stops based solely on the smell of cannabis. According to the commission, such stops are often subjective and result in discriminatory actions, as well as contributing to a loss of trust in the police force. To address this problem, the report also suggests mandatory training for police officers on cannabis, as well as more effective strategies for dealing with problematic behaviours associated with substance use.
The report stresses that current prohibitionist policies have failed to reduce cannabis use and social harms, and that a new legal framework based on scientific evidence and social justice principles is needed. Sadiq Khan, who commissioned the report, said London must lead a new approach to drug policy that focuses more on health and prevention, even though the UK government has legislative power in this area.
The publication of this report reignites debate on cannabis policy in the UK, at a time when several European countries are moving towards more progressive models, including decriminalisation and regulated legalisation. Although the recommendations are not binding, they represent a significant step towards reform and could influence future policy decisions.
Read the full report “The Cannabis Conundrum” here:
FINAL LDC REPORT - The Cannabis Conundrum 28-5-25
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[Disclaimer: Please note that this text was originally written in Portuguese and is translated into English and other languages using an automatic translator. Some words may differ from the original and typos or errors may occur in other languages.]____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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With a degree in Journalism from the University of Coimbra, Laura Ramos has a postgraduate degree in Photography and has been a Journalist since 1998. Winner of the Business of Cannabis Awards in the category "Journalist of the Year 2024", Laura was a correspondent for Jornal de Notícias in Rome, Italy, and Press Officer in the Office of the Minister of Education of the 21st Portuguese Government. She has an international certification in Permaculture (PDC) and created the street-art photography archive “Say What? Lisbon” @saywhatlisbon. Co-founder and Editor of CannaReporter® and coordinator of PTMC - Portugal Medical Cannabis, Laura directed the documentary “Pacientes” and was part of the steering group of the first Postgraduate Course in GxP's for Medicinal Cannabis in Portugal, in partnership with the Military Laboratory and the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon.
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