The UK’s Political Parties Stances on Cannabis

Cannabis remains a Class B controlled substance in the United Kingdom, making its possession, cultivation, and distribution illegal. However, the debate around cannabis policy has intensified in recent years, driven by changing public attitudes, emerging research on its medical benefits, and shifting international policies, essentially making it decriminalised across the UK.

Understanding the stances of the UK's political parties on cannabis is crucial for several reasons. It helps voters make informed decisions, provides insight into potential future policy changes, and reflects broader societal attitudes towards drug use, personal freedom, and public health approaches to substance control.

As we explore each party's position, it's important to note that stances on cannabis often intersect with broader drug policies, medical regulations, and criminal justice reform. These positions can also evolve over time in response to new evidence, public opinion shifts, and changes in party leadership.

Conservative Party

The Conservative Party has traditionally taken a tough stance on cannabis and drug policy in general. Their position generally maintains that cannabis should remain illegal, citing concerns about its health impacts and potential as a gateway drug.

However, there have been some nuanced shifts in recent years. The Conservatives oversaw the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK, allowing specialist doctors to prescribe cannabis-based products for certain conditions. This move was largely in response to high-profile cases of children with severe epilepsy benefiting from cannabis oil.

Despite this medical allowance, the party remains opposed to broader decriminalisation or legalisation of cannabis for recreational use. Their approach tends to focus on tackling drug-related crime while also looking at treatment options for “drug addicts”.

Key figures within the party have expressed varying views. Some have maintained a cautious approach, emphasising the need for more research, while others have broken ranks to advocate for a more liberal approach to cannabis policy.

Labour Party

The Labour Party's stance on cannabis has evolved over the years and can be characterised as cautiously progressive. While they haven't advocated for full legalisation, they have shown openness to reform and evidence-based policy making.

Labour has committed to developing a public health approach to substance misuse, focusing on harm reduction rather than criminalization. They've expressed support for medical cannabis, with key figures stating support for allowing the legal prescription of cannabis oil for medical purposes. The party has also been supportive of allowing more research into the medical applications of cannabis.

Regarding recreational use, Labour's position has been more ambiguous. While some members have supported decriminalisation, the party as a whole hasn't taken an official stance in favour of changing the legal status of recreational cannabis.

It's worth noting that Labour's approach to cannabis classification has varied over time, demonstrating the party's evolving stance on the issue.

Seeing as we currently have a Labour Government we did a full piece on what a Labour Government means for Cannabis, which you can check out here.

Reform Party

The Reform Party's manifesto does not include any specific policies supporting cannabis legalisation or decriminalisation. Instead, their approach appears to be more focused on tougher enforcement of drug laws.

• They propose introducing a new offence of "Substantial Possession of Drugs" which would be met with heavy fines.

• The party advocates for a substantial increase in the use of Stop and Search.

These policies suggest that the Reform Party is taking a more hardline stance on drug offences, including those related to cannabis. Their approach aligns more closely with stricter enforcement of current drug laws rather than reform or liberalisation of cannabis policies.

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats have consistently been the most progressive of the major UK parties regarding cannabis policy. They have long advocated for a public health-oriented approach to drug policy and have explicitly called for the legalisation and regulation of cannabis.

The Lib Dems propose to:

• Legalise cannabis through a regulated market in the UK.

• Introduce limits on potency and permit cannabis to be sold through licensed outlets to adults.

• Allow home cultivation of cannabis for personal use.

• Allow small-scale cannabis clubs

The party argues that legalisation would break the grip of criminal gangs, make cannabis safer, and raise tax revenues. They've also emphasised the potential to reduce the burden on the criminal justice system and redirect police resources to more serious crimes.

Lib Dem leaders have been vocal advocates for cannabis reform, stating that the "war on drugs has been a catastrophic failure." The party has consistently pushed for evidence-based drug policies and has been influenced by successful models of regulation in other countries.

The Lib Dems have also been strong supporters of medical cannabis, calling for improved access for patients and increased research into its therapeutic potential. Their stance on cannabis is part of a broader drug policy reform platform, which includes treating drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal one.

Green Party

The Green Party has one of the most progressive stances on cannabis among UK political parties. They advocate for the complete legalisation of cannabis for both medical and recreational use. The party's drug policy is based on harm reduction principles and treating drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal one.

Key points of the Green Party's cannabis policy include:

- Legalising possession, trade, and cultivation of cannabis for adults

- Pardoning and expunging criminal records for past cannabis-related offences

- Allowing licensed cannabis social clubs

- Promoting research into medical applications of cannabis

The Greens argue that legalisation would reduce the harm caused by the illegal drug trade, generate tax revenue, and allow for better regulation and education around cannabis use.

Scottish National Party (SNP)

The SNP's stance on cannabis is somewhat more progressive than that of the main UK-wide parties, but stops short of calling for full legalisation. They support the decriminalisation of possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use.

The party has called for drug policy to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, arguing that Scotland's drug problems require a tailored approach. They support a public health approach to drug use and have advocated for safe consumption rooms.

Regarding medical cannabis, the SNP has been supportive of increasing access and has called on the UK government to make it easier for doctors to prescribe cannabis-based medicines.

Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales, has taken a relatively progressive stance on cannabis. They support the decriminalisation of cannabis for personal use and advocate for a harm reduction approach to drug policy.

The party has called for drug policy to be devolved to the Welsh government, arguing that Wales needs a tailored approach to its specific drug issues. They support increased access to medical cannabis and have called for more research into its potential benefits.

Northern Ireland Parties

The stance on cannabis varies among Northern Ireland's parties:

• Democratic Unionist Party (DUP): Generally maintains a conservative stance, opposing liberalisation of cannabis laws.

• Sinn Féin: Has shown some support for medical cannabis but hasn't advocated for full legalisation.

• Alliance Party: Supports a review of drug laws and a more health-focused approach to drug use.

• Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP): Has expressed support for medical cannabis but hasn't taken a strong stance on recreational use.

Comparative Analysis

When comparing the stances of UK parties, there's a clear spectrum from the more conservative approach of the Tories to the full legalisation advocated by the Greens and Lib Dems. Labour and the SNP occupy a middle ground, showing openness to reform without committing to full legalisation.

Public opinion in the UK has been shifting towards a more liberal stance on cannabis, with increasing support for medical use and decriminalisation. However, support for full legalisation remains more contentious.

Potential Future Developments

Several factors could influence party positions on cannabis in the future:

• Increasing evidence of medical benefits

• Changes in international cannabis laws

• Economic arguments for legalisation (tax revenue, job creation)

• Shifting public opinion

• Pressure from advocacy groups

To Conclude

The UK political landscape shows a range of approaches to cannabis policy, from maintaining criminalization to advocating for full legalisation. As the debate continues and evidence evolves, party positions may shift. The stance on cannabis has become an increasingly important policy issue, reflecting broader debates about public health, personal freedom, and criminal justice reform in the UK.

Voters interested in cannabis policy should stay informed about party positions and potential policy changes, as these could significantly impact both medical and recreational cannabis use in the UK in the coming years.