13 May 2017
And we can be assured that the Tory’s won’t be touching it with a bargepole.
That said if they are getting short of cash halfway through a hard Brexit even they may have to entertain the idea.
In 2016 Cannabis Law Report met with Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb the first MP to try and introduce a private members bill on the subject.
Now the party’s Health spokesman and, we should imagine, architect of the Lib Dems planned regulated cannabis market plans studied Law at Leicester University and, after working as a Parliamentary Assistant for a Labour MP, built a career as a litigation solicitor specialising in employment law.
He was partner of Steeles Solicitors and is the author of ‘Remedies in the Employment Tribunal’.
We’ve also highlighted a couple of tabloid stories on their proposals and judging by the tone it’s really only the two major parties who need to run to catch up on the issue.
If you are looking for a bit more background about his private members bill see our stories at https://cannabislaw.report/?s=norman+lamb
Here’s what the Lib Dems are saying on their website as of 12 May 2017 at http://www.libdems.org.uk/regulating-cannabis
The unregulated cannabis market is harming our young people. Something must be done.
The unregulated cannabis market is harming young people. The Liberal Democrats have a plan to change that:
By Liberal Democrats May 12, 2017 12:05
The Liberal Democrats plan to break the grip of criminal gangs and protect young people by introducing a legal, regulated market for cannabis.
Why are we doing this?
Because the current approach to cannabis has been a catastrophic failure.
Unregulated cannabis is freely available and widely used, generating significant mental and psychical health problems – especially for young people – who are being harmed by increasingly potent products.
And because organised criminals are making huge profits at the expense of people’s health, in an illegal industry with no age checks, and no controls on quality or strength. The UK cannabis economy is worth an estimated £7bn a year. We could put that money to better use.
Every British government so far has passed the buck of responsibility for this problem, thereby giving total control to the illegal rings who benefit from it. This is irresponsible and dangerous.
It’s time for an honest and pragmatic response. Only the Lib Dems can do this.
We propose a series of strict regulations, such as limiting sales of cannabis to over-18s, making cannabis safer by limiting its psychoactive chemical content, and taxing all cannabis sales (generating up to £1bn for investment in drug education and treatment).
How do we know it will work?
We’ve rigorously consulted a panel of experts, including senior police officers, drugs policy analysts and public health experts. They considered evidence from countries who’ve successfully legalised cannabis.
When a country as eminently sensible as Canada has come to the conclusion that regulation is better than prohibition, you know that the tide has turned. The question is now how to regulate responsibly and effectively. We can do it.
If you believe Britain’s young people deserve a sensible, progressive policy on cannabis, support us today:
The BBC reports,
The Liberal Democrats would legalise selling and growing cannabis if elected, the party has confirmed ahead of publishing its manifesto.
The party would allow licensed shops to sell the drug to over-18s, let people grow cannabis at home and introduce small “cannabis social clubs”.
The Lib Dem spring conference in 2016 backed a regulated cannabis market.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39897999
Finally it being the UK here’s what the tabloids are saying
The Sun sound more sensible on the subject than many others ….
A report by the right wing think tank the Adam Smith Institute reveals there are major savings for state coffers if the soft drug was regulated.
Between £750m and £1bn could be earned by the Revenue if it was taxed.
And there would also be significant savings in the criminal justice costs, with 1,363 offenders now in prison for cannabis-related crimes, costing taxpayers £50m a year.
The call is backed by a full spectrum of MPs, including ex-Tory Cabinet minister Peter Lilley, and veteran Labour MP Paul Flynn.
In addition to financial arguments, there has long been a call to legalise the drug to help people with chronic pain and anxiety.
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform says tens of thousands of people in UK already break the law to use cannabis for symptom relief.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2236004/cannabis-legalised-uk-lib-dems/
The Mirror also reports the story in a flat tone
The Liberal Democrats have unveiled a dramatic manifesto pledge to let shops and social clubs sell cannabis – raising up to £1billion in tax.
Party chiefs announced today they will completely legalise the drug and allow it onto the market if they win the general election.
With just nine seats in Westminster the Lib Dems are very, very unlikely to do that.
But they are still thought to be the first time one of the traditional ‘main three’ parties has campaigned on a platform of legalising cannabis, something the government has refused to do.
The manifesto will pledge to “break the grip of criminal gangs” by introducing a “legal, regulated market” for the drug.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/lib-dems-unveil-dramatic-manifesto-10406861
