Pubdate: Tue, 08 Mar 2016
Source: Independent  (UK)
Copyright: 2016 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/209
Author: Oliver Wright

LEGALISED CANNABIS 'COULD RAISE UKP1BN A YEAR'

Legalising the sale of cannabis in specialist shops would generate 
UKP1bn a year in tax revenue and reduce the harm done to users and 
society, according to the most detailed plans ever drawn up for the 
liberalisation of UK drug laws.

The study, which was carried out by a panel of experts including 
scientists, academics and police chiefs, calls for the UK to follow 
the lead of some US states and allow the sale of cannabis to over-18s 
in licensed retail stores.

The report's conclusions will form the basis of a new drugs policy 
being drawn up by the Liberal Democrat Party, which is expected to 
debate the issue at its spring conference later this week.

Under the plans proposed by the expert panel:

Adults would be able to buy cannabis from licensed single-purpose 
stores modelled on pharmacies, like the marijuana dispensaries 
operating in Oregon and Colorado.

Home-cultivation of cannabis would also be legal for personal use and 
small-scale licensed cannabis social clubs could be established. 
However, branding, promoting or advertising cannabis products would be banned.

The price, potency and packaging of all sold cannabis would be 
controlled by the Government with a new regulator established to 
oversee the market. The price would disproportionately rise for 
higher-strength cannabis to discourage sales of the most harmful 
forms of the drug.

Both drug production and sales would be taxed, raising, the panel 
claims, between UKP500m and UKP1bn a year. However, unlike some 
countries that have legalised cannabis, the panel does not come out 
in favour of ring-fencing the revenue for drug treatment, prevention 
and harm reduction.

A new regulator would be established to oversee the market, possibly 
modelled on Ofgem and Ofwat.

The experts behind the study say legalisation would reduce 
drug-related crime and mitigate the harmful effects of the drug on users.

The panel was set up last year by the former Liberal Democrat health 
minister Norman Lamb and has been chaired by Steve Rolles, from the 
Transform Drug Policy Foundation.

Other panel members include Mike Barton, the Chief Constable of 
Durham Constabulary, Professor-David Nutt, the former chair of the 
Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs, and Niamh Eastwood, 
executive director of the drugs charity Release. In the report, the 
authors say that while they do not dispute that taking cannabis is 
harmful - legalisation and regulation is a better way to mitigate the risks.

"Drug policy to date has (almost) always been driven by political and 
ideological agendas that have ignored scientific, public health and 
social policy norms," they write.

"We are fully aware of the health harms associated with cannabis use, 
but contend that a rational policy must pragmatically manage the 
reality of use as it currently exists, rather than attempt to 
eradicate it using punitive enforcement."

This, they said, was an approach that, "however well intentioned, has 
historically proved to be ineffective and counterproductive".

Mr Rolles said the reality was that millions of people used cannabis 
anyway, and there was "a pressing need for Government to take control 
of the trade from gangsters and unregulated dealers".

"Legal regulation is now working well, despite the fearmongering, in 
Colorado and Washington, and will roll out across the US over the 
coming years," he said.

But other drug experts were less enthusiastic. Harry Shapiro of the 
charity Drug Wise, said that while there was a case to decriminalise 
cannabis and make possession of small quantities of the drug a civil 
offence like a parking fine, any further moves should only go ahead 
with caution.

"There is a strong case to be prudent and see what happens elsewhere 
before making decisions in this country," he said.

However, the paper is likely to prompt the Liberal Democrats to 
become the first British political party to come out in favour of legalisation.

At the last election, the Green Party advocated setting up a Royal 
Commission to review currently controlled drug classifications, 
within a legalised environment of drug use.

Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, said he was now convinced 
that the prohibition of cannabis had "failed". "We need a new, 
smarter approach and I welcome this report ahead of the debate at 
spring conference," he said.

"It is waste of police time to go after young people using cannabis 
and ludicrous to saddle them with criminal convictions that can 
damage their future careers.

"A legal market would allow us to have more control over what is 
sold, and raise a considerable amount in taxation.

"I have always said that we must have an evidence-led approach to 
drugs law reform, and this report should be taken seriously. Britain 
has to end our failed war on drugs. The status quo causes huge damage 
and we urgently need reform."

[sidebar]

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

Allowing the sale of cannabis to over-18s from specialist, licensed 
stores. The report proposes allowing home-cultivation for personal 
use and small-scale licensed cannabis social clubs.

A new regulator to oversee the market.

Regulation around the price, potency and packaging of cannabis from 
retailers, with policy informed by best practice in tobacco and 
alcohol regulation.

Single-purpose outlets to sell cannabis modelled on pharmacies.

Cannabis to be sold over the counter by licensed vendors, in plain 
packaging with clear health and risk reduction information.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom