The Liberal Democrats have always championed progressive and pragmatic approaches to drug policy, and their stance on cannabis is no exception. It’s time to acknowledge that the criminalisation of cannabis—a natural herb—was a historical misstep. The Liberal Democrats advocate for legalisation, emphasizing that this approach is not only more sensible but also just.
Ending Criminalisation
Cannabis should never have been criminalised. The Shaffer report in 1972 advised against criminalisation, but Nixon banned it anyway, along with psychedelics, which also have ancient healing properties. This ban was never about public safety; it was a politically motivated attempt to attack Nixon’s enemies in the Black, immigrant, and liberal populations. For over 50 years, people have been trying to defend themselves from a position of criminality. Decriminalisation corrects this historical wrong, ensuring that individuals are no longer penalised for cultivating or consuming a plant that has been used for thousands of years for medicine and spiritual purposes.
Upholding Human Rights
There is a strong argument that individuals should have the right to grow their own medicine without the threat of state persecution. While unscrupulous gangs exploit the illegal nature of cannabis to meet the high demand—25% of teens in Scotland use cannabis—many law-abiding, tax-paying individuals simply grow a few plants for personal use or for a small community of adults. These people, who do no harm to society, wish to enjoy the benefits of cannabis through their own organically grown and cared-for plant medicine, rather than relying on gangs or big pharma products. Yet, they have no voice as they are considered “criminals.”
A Balanced and Regulated Market
Legalisation allows for a balanced market where both small-scale and large-scale producers can coexist. Consumers benefit from this diversity, with access to affordable products for the masses and premium, organic options for connoisseurs. Regulating the market ensures safety, with products being free from harmful substances.
Public Health and Safety
Shifting to legalisation reduces the burden on the legal system and allows police to focus on more serious crimes. It also generates tax revenue that can be reinvested into public health initiatives, including education on responsible consumption and addiction treatment services.
Moving Forward
The Liberal Democrats are leading the way towards a rational and humane cannabis policy. By legalising cannabis and fostering a diverse production market, they aim to create a safer, fairer, and more economically vibrant society. It’s time to move beyond the mistakes of the past and embrace a future where cannabis is regulated, safe, and accessible.
* Darren Ross is a 50 year old firefighter with a wife and 3 children who lives in Perthshire, Scotland.
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2 Comments
Companies are all ready making money from Cannabis products. They are extracting CBD from the plant to make money from it. Chocolate and other products to enrich a few companies exploiting people who know cannabis herb can help in certain health conditions but the effects are weakened by just using one of the plants ingredients. Yet if you grow it yourself you are a criminal. If it is regulated ,safe and accessible as you say, police can look after other crimes and some pressure can be taken off the NHS.
I’m fully supportive of changes to decriminalise and regulate cannabis for recreational and medicinal use.
For practical reasons I’d favour prioritising the push for a bit more sanity when it comes to medical use, and the availability of prescriptions within the NHS. There are challenges to ensuring that a regulated/licensed market works as intended, and while I am confident these can be resolved, I worry that if we try to change everything in one go that those concerns about (for example) drug driving or antisocial behaviour will drag everything out and be used to prevent any progress. I also believe that as and when people see carefully regulated cannabis-based medicines doing good for their friends and neighbours that it will help to remove some of the stigma which drags down the debate.
However, I do think that we could quickly issue directions to the police and/or sentencing guidelines so that people are not given a criminal record for possession for personal use (or for passing onto a close friend/partner). In particular, having one or two small plants at home should be treated in the same way as someone making home-brew.