For many years, legislators, health experts, and other stakeholders in the UK have been pushing the government to legalize cannabis. The road has been rough and full of obstacles coming from different angles. Hope was renewed in November 2018 after medical cannabis was legalized under strict rules.
Due to controlled use and access, it is not many people that have benefited from its legalization. Recreational cannabis is still far from being legalized but BBC News reports that legalization could be achieved by 2025. Legislators and other stakeholders might want to look at the pros and cons of legalization and hasten the process.
Advantages of legalizing cannabis in the UK
Based on a report by 360 Business Law, there is no commitment from the UK government to legalize cannabis soon. Luckily, there are many stakeholders, including politicians, lawyers, growers, and health experts, that are campaigning hard for legalization.
Some stakeholders, from the US and Europe, including HighTHC Shop, have been striving to share the best information with users about the benefits of using cannabis. Combined, the efforts from each stakeholder are bearing fruits and there is hope weed will be legalized soon. If legalized, a wide category of people will benefit, including users, growers, processors, sellers, and the government.
Improved health
Cannabis for medical use was legalized in the UK in 2018. However, the government put too much-restricted control on prescriptions. Due to the rules, very few people have received prescriptions.
If legalized, everyone with any type of medical condition will get access to medical cannabis. It will help many people in the UK manage different types of pain and suppress anxiety and depression. Generally, the health conditions of UK citizens will drastically improve.
Improved economy
Legalization means there will be mass production of cannabis in farms and factories. There will be more brands and strains to find online, such as https://highthc.shop/product/lemon-haze-sativa-25thc/. The cannabis sector is expected to grow to USD 1.2 billion or GBP 968 billion by 2024. After legalization, the growth could increase threefold or higher in a short time.
The Open Access Government says there are more than 594,000 people employed in the cannabis sector in the UK. Legalization will increase workers, growers, processors, and sellers. The government will be at an advantage to earn more from taxes.
Consumption of safer products
Statista says that 31.2% of UK residents aged from 16 to 59 years have used cannabis once or multiple times. Based on where they buy their products from, the residents cannot be guaranteed the safety of their products. Legalization will help every user in the UK get access to cannabis products that are processed and packaged in the factories. They are purer and safer.
Reduction of criminal activities connected with the use and sale of cannabis
Recreational marijuana is illegal in the UK. A report by JRF.org shows out of every 7 offenders arrested in the UK, one of them is due to possession of cannabis. Since the mid-1970s, the number of cannabis arrests has increased 10 times.
Cannabis policing, including arrests, prosecution, and jailing, costs the UK government £50 million annually. Legalization will help minimize criminal activities connected with cannabis use which would cost the government less money.
Increased innovation
The cannabis sector is one of the sectors that can help boost innovation in the UK. The sector has undergone rigorous changes as new players enter the market. Although legalization is yet to be achieved, the UK is still the leading grower and exporter of legal cannabis globally. Unfortunately, the country imports all its finished cannabis products.
Legalization would help increase innovation to meet market demands. Processors would compete to produce unique products. Packaging manufacturers would be innovative in producing eco-friendly, child-resistant cannabis packaging that keeps products fresh.
Disadvantages of legalizing cannabis in the UK
Legalization will provide the UK government and its citizens with an array of benefits. However, there could be some disadvantages that might accompany legalization.
Possibilities of addiction
The UK Addiction Treatment Centers report that 11% of cannabis users develop an addiction. The report says the numbers are likely to increase in young users. Addiction does not occur immediately but after prolonged use.
Users who exceed the right doses are the ones who might develop an addiction. Cannabis legalization will allow UK residents to use the products without fear of arrest. Some users might abuse their freedom and consume more than they ought to, and eventually become addicted.
Users might be tempted to try out other drugs
Research by the National Institute of Drug Abuse suggests that cannabis use could lead users to try out other drugs. The research targeted people who were affected by alcohol abuse and found that they had used cannabis before engaging in alcohol use. The most affected category were those exposed to cannabis while still adolescents. People who started using cannabis in adulthood were not likely to face such challenges.
The report suggests that there should be strict control of age limitations for the use of cannabis. Legalization will make cannabis products widely available across all cities and towns in the UK. Although the sellers might observe the age limit rules, those who buy might go and share the products with adolescents.
Increase or sudden fall in the cost of properties
Legalization will help increase earnings for growers, processors, sellers, and packaging product manufacturers. Shipping companies would record a booming business as they ship cannabis to consumers. After a while, stakeholders would gain higher purchasing power and might start shopping for land and houses.
This might cause the cost of properties to rise or fall depending on whether supply will surpass demand and vice versa. In Colorado, US, for instance, an economic inquiry survey by Wiley Online Library revealed that cannabis legalization caused property prices to increase by 6%.
In another report by CATO Institute, legalization in Colorado caused an increase in property prices by 8.4%. The increase affected property located within 160 miles of a cannabis retail outlet.
Conclusion
The legalization of cannabis in the UK will bring an array of pros and cons. There will be crime reduction and a boost in economic growth. Legalization will help increase innovation, although it could also cause an increase in property prices.
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