The Labour Party has secured a majority in the UK’s 2024 general election. With Keir Starmer as the leader, Labour will form the government after 14 years of Conservative rule.
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However, like the Conservative governments that preceded him, Starmer is not expected to change the UK’s drug policy or decriminalize cannabis.
Starmer has repeatedly stated he won’t change the UK’s drug policy, mentioning he has “no intention” of altering drug laws if his party wins the next election. Just one week before the vote, in an interview with ITV News, he confirmed that he is not considering decriminalizing cannabis or any other drugs and intends to keep the current laws in place.
In the UK, cannabis is illegal for recreational use and classified as a Class B drug. It was reclassified as a Class C drug with reduced penalties in 2004 but returned to Class B in 2009.
Cannabis stands as the most frequently used illegal substance in the UK, as 7.6% of adults aged 16 to 59 reported using cannabis in the past year, according to the 2023 data from the Office for National Statistics.
However, public opinion in Britain is divided on the legalization of recreational cannabis use, as 38% of respondents are against legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes, while 35% express support for such a move, according to a 2022 survey conducted on 1,500 respondents by the market research and polling firm Redfield & Wilton Strategies.
The concept of decriminalization is central to the public debate on cannabis in the UK.
While drug diversion programs are supported by both Labour and the Conservatives, decriminalization is seen as a contentious issue.
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Drug diversion programs, led by the police, aim to redirect individuals caught with minor offenses, such as possession of illegal drugs for personal use, away from the criminal justice system towards alternative measures.
These programs, some experts argue, are effectively similar to decriminalization, even though the UK continues to criminalize drug possession, as being caught with small amounts of cannabis can still cause problems. Disclosing a criminal record can prevent people from traveling to certain countries and restrict their job opportunities.
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While both the Labour and Conservatives in the UK oppose the decriminalization of cannabis and support maintaining current drug policies, some members of the Labour Party have attempted to bring the debate on cannabis decriminalization into the public sphere over the years.
For example, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London (Labour), announced plans in 2022 to create a program offering an alternative to arrest for individuals caught with small amounts of cannabis. However, Khan’s initiative faced criticism from the UK government as it would allow low-level cannabis users to avoid prosecution. Even Labour leader Keir Starmer did not support the plan and joined the then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in criticizing it, reaffirming that he was not in favor of changing the law or decriminalization.
The stance on cannabis decriminalization in the UK is quite divided among political parties. The Liberal Democrats and the Green Party are the only ones actively pushing for cannabis regulation. However, the Labour and Conservative parties, the main political parties, are reluctant to discuss decriminalization or legalization. Despite this, there are factions within these two parties that are more open to a political debate on this issue.
A different story is for medical cannabis, which was legalized in 2018, marking a significant shift in the UK’s drug policy. Despite this, the industry has faced hurdles that hinder its growth. Although technically available through the National Health Service (NHS), access for patients remains largely dependent on private clinics
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