Image source: https://hub420.shop/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Lemon-Haze.jpg

Cannabis was made a Class C drug in the UK in 2004. From then on, cannabis charges attracted less severe penalties. The victory didn’t stay for long because it was classified back to Class B in 2009. 

Prescription of medical cannabis in the UK started in 2018. Lobbyists have been pushing for the legalization of both medical and recreational cannabis in the UK. There has been steadfast progress, and legalization might be realized soon.  

Legalization issues at hand – the citizens’ petitions

Cannabis lobbyists believe that people in the UK have used it for more than 4,000 years before it was made illegal in 1925. So far, the UK government and parliament have received some of the largest petitions on the matter. In each cannabis petition, advocates and lobbyists have managed to collect a large number of signatures from supporting citizens. 

One of the supporters, hub420.shop, shares more information on this. According to it, one of the petitions was presented to the UK parliament in mid-2015, about 3 years before medical cannabis was legalized in the UK in 2018. The issue at hand was pushing for the quick legalization of cannabis. A total of 236,995 signatures were collected. The legislators did not approve the petition at that time, but it bore fruit 3 years later.   

The push by legislators and the police

It is not just the UK citizens who have been pushing for cannabis to be legalized in the country. A section of legislators has been at the forefront of lobbying for support from fellow legislators. Recently, the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he would form a cannabis laws review commission. He had made a tour of the US, where he visited a cannabis factory in Los Angeles. 

He announced the illegal trade of illegal drugs was hurting society and that it was time to discuss the issue and consider the laws around it. He said he wanted to have first-hand experience with his US tour. City Hall has no power to alter cannabis criminal law, but it has the power to influence its discussions in the parliament. 

In a different scenario, the National Police Chiefs Council, together with the College of Policing, has proposed the decriminalization of cannabis. The proposal by the police makes a substantial impact, considering they are the ones responsible for law enforcement. 

The current secretary holds a firm stand against the use of drugs, and the push by police leaders is not meant to offer an open door. Their proposal suggests people caught with small amounts of drugs be offered a chance to join a drugs educational program instead of charging them with a criminal offense. 

Is 2023 the year when cannabis use will be made legal in the UK?

Many countries around the world have decriminalized cannabis. Transform Drug Policy Foundation notes that drug legalization and policy reforms lead to a fairer and just community. Through advocacy, some areas in the UK have already lessened punishment for cannabis offenses. Advocates of the legalization of the production, sale, and use of cannabis petition believe that cannabis legalization would earn the UK government over £900 million in revenue annually. 

It would save the government over £400 million in policing costs, and more than 10,000 jobs would be created. In early 2022, a report was released that pointed to cannabis decimalization in some parts of London. The report said cannabis possession would be taken through counseling instead of arrests. 

The mayor of London has been aggressively fighting for decriminalization and removal of cannabis from class B for good. So far, 63% of Londoners favor legalization, against 47% nationwide. 72% of UK citizens say legalization would bring high economic benefits to the country. 2023 is still young, and a lot of things might happen that might lead to cannabis legalization in the UK.

Conclusion

The battle for cannabis legalization in the UK has been ongoing for many years now. There is greater hope today due to the massive support currently received from citizens, politicians, and the police. There are a lot of expectations that 2023 might be the year that great victory will be achieved.