Home

In Depth

Should the UK decriminalise drugs?

Police to drop charges for repeat drug use offences

by The Week Staff

26 Oct 2020

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

To continue reading for free, please register your details below

We will use the details you have shared to manage your registration. You agree to the processing, storage, sharing and use of this information for the purpose of managing your registration as described in our Privacy Policy.

Would you like to receive The WeekDay newsletter?

The WeekDay newsletter provides you with a daily digest of news and analysis.

We will use the details you have shared to manage your newsletter subscription. You agree to the processing, storage, sharing and use of this information for the purpose of managing your subscription as described in our Privacy Policy.

We will use the information you have shared for carefully considered and specific purposes, where we believe we have a legitimate case to do so, for example to send you communications about similar products and services we offer. You can find out more about our legitimate interest activity in our Privacy Policy.

If you wish to object to the use of your data in this way, please tick here.

'We' includes The Week and other Dennis Group brands as detailed here.

Cannabis

Recommended

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvrv { display: none !important; }

Behind the scenes

Who is to blame for the ‘amber watchlist’ U-turn?

Today's newspaper front pages

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvrw { display: none !important; }

Today’s newspapers

‘Pings can only get better’

Nicola Sturgeon is re-elected to position of first minister

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvrx { display: none !important; }

In Depth

Scottish independence odds and polls: will Scotland vote to leave the UK?

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvry { display: none !important; }

Today’s big question

Travel row, rebellions and a dip in the polls: is Boris Johnson in trouble?

More on Cannabis

A man jumping from the sky

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvsu { display: none !important; }

Tall Tales

13 Jul 2021

Paratrooper survives after parachute fails to open

And other stories from the stranger side of life

Surgery

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvsv { display: none !important; }

Tall Tales

24 May 2021

Canadian soldier ‘gave unit cannabis cakes’

And other stories from the stranger side of life

Sadiq Khan, mayor of London

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvsw { display: none !important; }

Why we’re talking about . . .

6 Apr 2021

The benefits of cannabis legalisation

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says there is widespread public support for decriminalisation of the class-B drug

A cannabis plant

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvsz { display: none !important; }

Tall Tales

8 Mar 2021

Cop who ate cannabis during raid a ‘complete idiot’

And other stories from the stranger side of life

Man in handcuffs

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvt0 { display: none !important; }

Tall Tales

23 Feb 2021

Wanted man hands himself in ‘for peace and quiet’

And other stories from the stranger side of life

Mexican soldiers destroy a marijuana plantation near La Rumorosa town in Tecate.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvt1 { display: none !important; }

In Brief

20 Nov 2020

Mexico gambles on legalising cannabis

Plan aimed at putting a dent in black market - but some fear that violence may increase

stoned mouse

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvt2 { display: none !important; }

In Brief

11 Sep 2020

Wild mouse passes out after eating cannabis plant

And other stories from the stranger side of life

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvt3 { display: none !important; }

In Brief

2 Jun 2020

Britain being overrun by ‘randy rodents’

And other stories from the stranger side of life

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvt4 { display: none !important; }

In Depth

20 Mar 2020

Why is Canada’s black-market cannabis market booming?

Many users still buy from unlicensed dealers despite legalisation of the drug

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvt6 { display: none !important; }

In Depth

20 Mar 2020

The Week Unwrapped: Electric trees, government weed and skywriting

Could leaves power the homes of the future? Why isn’t legal cannabis catching on? And will British skies soon fill with messages?

coronavirus batman

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvt7 { display: none !important; }

In Brief

4 Mar 2020

China firm says ‘Batman’ costume protects from coronavirus

And other stories from the stranger side of life

Marijuana

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvt9 { display: none !important; }

In Depth

11 Feb 2020

Three reasons why the Tories might legalise cannabis

Potential for raising tax revenue may be among the most compelling attractions

cannabis

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvta { display: none !important; }

In Depth

16 Jan 2020

Is alcohol the ‘most harmful’ drug?

Former government adviser says alcohol is more dangerous than banned substances

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvtb { display: none !important; }

In Review

25 Nov 2019

Rudding Park Hotel and Spa: a Cannabidiol experience

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvtc { display: none !important; }

In Depth

25 Nov 2019

Instant Opinion: The Queen was ‘right to be ruthless’

Your guide to the best columns and commentary on Monday 25 November

Marijuana

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvte { display: none !important; }

In Depth

11 Nov 2019

The cannabis-based medicines approved for use on NHS

Charities welcome new epilepsy and MS drugs but criticise watchdog over ‘massive missed opportunity’ to treat other conditions

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvtf { display: none !important; }

In Depth

7 Nov 2019

Medical cannabis trial to target 20,000 UK patients

Project Twenty21 will test seven medical conditions including chronic pain

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvtg { display: none !important; }

In Brief

29 Oct 2019

Medicinal cannabis ‘does not help depression and anxiety’

New research review suggests use of the drug can worsen psychotic symptoms

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvth { display: none !important; }

In Depth

17 Oct 2019

What is CBD oil and is it legal in the UK?

Cannabidiol has entered the mainstream, but effects are unclear

Marijuana

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvti { display: none !important; }

In Brief

29 Aug 2019

Metal detectorists hospitalised by spiked cannabis cake

And other stories from the stranger side of life

cannabis

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvtj { display: none !important; }

In Depth

30 Jul 2019

Does the UK need cannabis factories?

Cannabis legalisation could reduce unemployment, according to former justice minister

Jeremy Corbyn

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvtl { display: none !important; }

In Depth

3 Jul 2019

Instant Opinion: ‘Corbynism’s greatest liability is now Jeremy Corbyn himself’

Your guide to the best columns and commentary on Wednesday 3 July

Oxford dictionary

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvtm { display: none !important; }

In Brief

21 Mar 2019

‘Peoplekind’ and ‘puggle’: what’s new in the Oxford English Dictionary

New words include gender-neutral pronouns and terms for cannabis and cocktails

Marijuana

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvto { display: none !important; }

In Brief

20 Mar 2019

High-strength cannabis linked to psychosis

New study says one in ten first-time psychotic disorders may be linked to strong drugs

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_17vjbecrkrvvsvtr { display: none !important; }