The state of cannabis in the UK in 2023. And what the future holds for 2024.

Cannabis is a topic of much debate in the United Kingdom. While medical use of cannabis has been legal since November 2018, recreational use of the drug remains illegal ¹. In this article, we will explore the current status of cannabis in the UK.

Legalization of Medical Cannabis

In November 2018, the UK government legalized medical cannabis for prescription by registered specialist doctors ¹. This was a significant step forward for patients who had been using cannabis to treat their medical conditions. However, despite the legalization, many police officers appear to be uninformed about the legality of medical cannabis, leading to arrests and raids of medical cannabis users ². This has caused much frustration among patients who are legally prescribed cannabis for medical purposes.

Recreational Use of Cannabis

Recreational use of cannabis remains illegal in the UK. Cannabis is classified as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 ¹. Possession of cannabis can result in up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both ¹. Supplying or producing cannabis can result in up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both ¹. Despite this, there have been calls to legalize cannabis for recreational use in the UK. Supporters of legalization argue that it would reduce crime, generate tax revenue, and improve public health ³⁴⁵.

Police Raids and Arrests

Despite the legalization of medical cannabis, many police officers appear to be uninformed about the legality of the drug. This has led to arrests and raids of medical cannabis users ². In August 2023, Sal Aziz, a 24-year-old NHS administrator, was handcuffed and detained by police officers after inhaling his legally prescribed medical cannabis from a vaporizer in public ². Aziz was later released and lodged a formal complaint. He is not the only medical cannabis patient to have been arrested since the legalization of medical cannabis in the UK. In the other side of the pond we see a policy change on the federal level with Joe Biden taking a liveral stance and pardoning thousands of people convicted of marijuana posession. We expect to see significant changes on the federal level for cannabis usage in the US, in the year to come.

2024 Forecast

In conclusion, cannabis remains a controversial topic in the UK. While medical use of cannabis has been legal since November 2018, recreational use of the drug remains illegal. Despite calls for legalization, cannabis is still classified as a Class B drug and possession, supply, or production of the drug can result in severe penalties. The lack of understanding among police officers about the legality of medical cannabis has led to arrests and raids of medical cannabis users, causing much frustration among patients. It remains to be seen whether cannabis will be legalized for recreational use in the UK in the future.

The UK’s policy on cannabis is more conservative than many other countries. While medical use of cannabis has been legal since November 2018, recreational use of the drug remains illegal . In contrast, some countries have legalized cannabis for both medical and recreational use. For example, in the United States, medicinal marijuana is legal in 29 states and nine of them have legalized it for recreational use . Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize the production and sale of cannabis in 2013, and in 2017, it became the first country in the world to sell the drug over the counter for recreational use . Other countries that have legalized cannabis for recreational use include Canada, Spain, and the Netherlands.

It is worth noting that the UK’s policy on cannabis is not unique. Many countries still prohibit the use of cannabis for recreational purposes, while others have legalized it for medical use only. The UK’s policy on cannabis is more conservative than some countries, but it is not the most conservative policy in the world. There have been calls for legalising recreational cannabis use in the UK from various groups and individuals, such as politicians, celebrities, activists, and consumers. They argue that legalising recreational cannabis would reduce crime and violence associated with illegal markets, generate tax revenue and economic benefits, improve public health and safety by regulating quality and potency standards, respect individual freedom and choice by allowing personal use without criminalisation or discrimination. Efforts from indivuals like the very sucessful Cancard which was launched in 2020 from Carly Barton are significant steps to the right directions.

The number of medical cannabis patients in the UK is estimated to have grown by 100,000 in 2023, reaching over 200,000. This is expected to continue in 2024, as more doctors become aware of the benefits of cannabis for various conditions, such as chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and anxiety.

CannabisDeals is devoted in promoting the safe, regulated and beneficial use of cannabis products. By offering a Marketplace where people can easily see what is currently in the cannabis market and merchants being able to showcase their cannabis products we believe we offer an essential service in this industry.

Wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2024!

CannabisDeals team