Overview

• The London Drugs Commission has urged shifting small-scale cannabis possession from criminal penalties under the Misuse of Drugs Act to regulation via the Psychoactive Substances Act.
• The Home Office has confirmed that cannabis will remain a Class B drug with no plans to reclassify or decriminalize it at a national level.
• Public opinion is split, with a Telegraph poll showing 71% of readers against decriminalization and an Evening Standard survey finding 59.9% in favour.
• Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen caution that legal change could exacerbate anti-social behaviour and complicate enforcement.
• Supporters argue decriminalization would reduce racial disparities in stop-and-search practices and could free up at least £3.5 billion in police and court resources.