Sadiq Khan says current cannabis rules 'cannot be justified' and backs some decriminalisation calls

Sir Sadiq Khan has backed calls for the possession of small quantities of natural cannabis to be decriminalised, saying current rules “cannot be justified”.

The Mayor of London said a report by the independent London Drugs Commission (LDC) published on Wednesday had provided “a compelling, evidence-based case” for decriminalisation and urged the Government to consider the move.

However Sir Mark Rowley, the head of the UK’s largest police force, has opposed the Mayor of London’s call to decriminalise some cannabis possession.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner said drug use is a “big issue” for communities, driving anti-social behaviour and acquisitive crime, and that a change in the law on cannabis is “not something we’re calling for”.

Set up by Sir Sadiq in 2022 and chaired by former lord chancellor Lord Charlie Falconer, the LDC found the current laws on cannabis were “disproportionate to the harms it can pose” following a study of how the drug is policed around the world.

It also found cannabis policing “continues to focus on particular ethnic communities”, damaging relations between the police and those communities.

The commission stopped short of calling for full decriminalisation, saying the long-term harms to public health were “not yet well understood”.

Instead, Lord Falconer’s committee called for “natural” – as opposed to “synthetic” – cannabis to be moved from the Misuse of Drugs Act to the Psychoactive Substances Act, effectively legalising possession of small amounts for personal use while continuing to prohibit importing, manufacturing or distributing the drug.

They also called for improved addiction services and greater education for young people on the dangers of cannabis.

Lord Falconer said: “Legalisation is not the answer. The criminal justice system response needs to focus only on the dealers and not the users.

“Those who suffer from the adverse effects of cannabis – which may be a small percentage of users but it is a high number of people – need reliable, consistent medical and other support. And there needs to be much more education on the risks of cannabis use.”

Under current laws, cannabis is a class B drug and those found in possession face a fine or imprisonment.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said decriminalising some cannabis possession “is not something we’re calling for”, following the mayor's calls.

While he acknowledged that changing the law is a matter for Parliament, he told the BBC: “At the moment we see drugs being at the centre of a lot of crime, whether it’s drug dealing … is so linked to violence, the county lines we close down – over 80% of the people behind those lines have got violent backgrounds.

"We see a lot of communities complaining about public drug use, and that’s a big issue in terms of anti-social behaviour.”

He added: “We’re chasing around people who are using drugs in public, which is concern to communities. We see drug users becoming addicted and that driving acquisitive crime. It’s a big part in our current operations. If the law changes we’ll change around that, but it’s not something we’re calling for.”

The Government has also come out against decriminalisation, with housing, communities and local government minister Matthew Pennycook telling Times Radio on Wednesday morning: “The mayor is obviously entitled to his view on the matter but the Government position on cannabis classification remains unchanged.

“We have no intention of reclassifying cannabis from a class B substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and our focus is continuing to work with partners across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use, ensure more people receive timely treatment and support, and make our communities and streets safer.”

LDC deputy chairwoman Janet Hills, a former Metropolitan Police detective, said the report was “a driver for change in our community” and called for “a more balanced and compassionate approach to policing in our city”.

Responding to the report, Sir Sadiq said: “I’ve long been clear that we need fresh thinking on how to reduce the substantial harms associated with drug-related crime in our communities.

“The London Drugs Commission report makes a compelling, evidenced-based case for the decriminalisation of possession of small quantities of natural cannabis which the Government should consider.

“It says that the current sentencing for those caught in possession of natural cannabis cannot be justified given its relative harm and people’s experience of the justice system.

“We must recognise that better education, improved healthcare and more effective, equitable policing of cannabis use are long overdue.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We will continue to work with partners across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use, ensure more people receive timely treatment and support, and make our streets and communities safer.

“The government has no intention of reclassifying cannabis from a Class B substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act.”

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Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Possession of cannabis should not be decriminalised like this. We have seen some US and Canadian cities devastated by soft policies on addictive and harmful drugs – now Sadiq Khan wants to send London the same way.

“Cannabis is illegal for a reason. Cannabis is associated with anti-social behaviour and heavy use can lead to serious psychosis and severed mental health problems.

“US and Canadian cities which tried this approach have ended up as crime-ridden ghettos with stupefied addicts on the streets and law-abiding citizens frightened to go there.

“Sadiq Khan is more interested in politically correct posturing for the benefit of his left-wing friends than he is making London a safe and nice place.

“I completely oppose these plans. But with a weak Labour Government in power, there’s no telling how they will react. We must stop soft Sadiq.”

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