Campaigners half way to the number of signatures needed to trigger a debate in Parliament
Demand grows for legalisation of cannabis in Britain Photo: Reuters
Support is growing for the legalisation
of pot in Britain with a petition already securing enough signatures to
force the Government to give a public response.
At the last count the petition has attracted more than 49,000
signatures and once it reaches 100,000, the Government will be obliged
to grant time for a Parliamentary debate.
Earlier this week Durham’s police and crime commissioner said his officers would no longer target people growing marijuana for their own consumption.
The drive to legalise pot in Britain comes against a backdrop of liberalisation of laws across the world.
In Holland, for example, some cafés are allowed to sell pot and
possession of small quantities of cannabis do not lead to prosecution.
In Belgium, despite the drug being illegal, police take a light touch
approach – taking the name of an individual caught in possession, but
not prosecuting.
Meanwhile four states in the US – Alaska, Oregon, Colorado and Washington – have legalised recreational use of cannabis along with Washington DC. California is due to follow and ballots are likely to be held across the country which could lead to further legalisation.
In addition more than 20 others allow the use of pot for medicinal purposes.
In Britain cannabis was regarded as a “class C” drug – attracting the lightest penalties.
But in 2009, amid fears that powerful new strains were dangerous to mental health, the drug was reclassified upwards to “class B” – with a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for supply or production of the drug.
Currently police will issue a warning or an on the spot £90 fine for somebody caught in possession of the drug
Meanwhile four states in the US – Alaska, Oregon, Colorado and Washington – have legalised recreational use of cannabis along with Washington DC. California is due to follow and ballots are likely to be held across the country which could lead to further legalisation.
In addition more than 20 others allow the use of pot for medicinal purposes.
In Britain cannabis was regarded as a “class C” drug – attracting the lightest penalties.
But in 2009, amid fears that powerful new strains were dangerous to mental health, the drug was reclassified upwards to “class B” – with a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for supply or production of the drug.
Currently police will issue a warning or an on the spot £90 fine for somebody caught in possession of the drug
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