- Conservative Policy - Labour Policy - Liberal Democrat Policy - Green Party Policy - Scottish National Party Policy - Plaid Cymru Policy - Final Thoughts - Further Reading
I haven't forgotten there are Irish policies too but I haven't got that far yet. The fact that they didn't jump out at me during a search doesn't fill me with confidence about their content.....
CONSERVATIVE PARTY
We've been governed by the Tory Party long enough to be aware of their drug policies, as we're living them. I've always believed that the 2018 law change was a cynical attempt (and a reluctant move) to quieten voices in the media over the plight of children like Alfie Dingley and Billy Caldwell who require cannabis to manage their health. The concept has not since been embraced and actions and words by successive Prime Ministers have been increasingly hostile to it, while countries around the world move instead towards laws based on actual evidence, rather than focusing on blame and criminalisation. It's disappointing but predictable to see other countries like Thailand and Germany getting 'cold feet' about relaxing drug laws. Whereas it's often cited that drugs have become an increased problem since laws were relaxed, there never seems to be consideration given to the idea that it may just have been legislated badly.
Centre for Evidence-Based Drug Policy (Formerly Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group) (Home Page accessed 24 September 2023). Available online at: https://www.cdprg.co.uk/
Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care, Ministry of Justice, Department for Work and Pensions , Department For Education, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (29 April 2022 update) Policy paper: From harm to hope: A 10-year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives. Gov.uk: Crown Copyright. Available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/from-harm-to-hope-a-10-year-drugs-plan-to-cut-crime-and-save-lives
Click here to be redirectedto my correspondence with a Police and Crime Commissioner and response to Home Secretary calls for tougher measures
LABOUR PARTY
Although Keir Starmer has reiterated that he would not change drug laws, or decriminalise drug use, The Labour Party Campaign for Drug Policy Reform is campaigning for decriminalisation of all drug use, and making it a matter of health policy instead of a criminal justice issue. You can read about the campaign on their website, subscribe to their newsletter and if you're a member of The Labour Party, find out ways to try and influence policy:
It's not lost on me that key opponents to decriminalising cannabis, like Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry are qualified barristers, as it strikes me that their views are based on their own experiences in this capacity, and very one sided, particularly when surveys suggest that a majority of both the Public and Members of Parliament support more relaxed laws. They are meant to be representing us all, after all.
Although the Lib Dems were the first Party I believe to favour decriminalising cannabis, I'm unclear as to their views on 'Grow Your Own'. As a member, there are ways you can get involved:
Plaid Cymru are at the very least in favour of looking at reform to drug laws. BBC News online (22 November 2019) Plaid Cymru manifesto 2019: 11 key policies explained. BBC News Online. Available online at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50506359
FINAL THOUGHTS
Lastly, we're going back to even before cannabis was criminalized (and remember it was used successfully as medicine and for other purposes before), and that's the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics in 1961, as this was central to the change in law. Here is a brief extract below (click image to access full document):
The reason I included this is because I'd imagine it difficult to argue that whether you're in favour of decriminalising or not, those things were not implemented and even the bare bones have been stripped back year after year. People in the UK, many of whom will doubtless be struggling to get a GP appointment, are blamed for being left addicted to drugs that they were prescribed by their doctors. When does a patient become an addict? When the drugs stopped working. No thought or support is offered to those suffering from or needing to withdraw from medication, which I've said elsewhere can be brutal. Homelessness has increased since being basically eradicated. I'd imagine it's terrifying to be sleeping on the streets and like it or not, certain drugs would relieve that to a manageable degree. I doubt the money you'd save not taking them would save you enough to find accommodation even if it were available. Boredom has surely increased as creative outlets and social opportunities for young people are attacked and free activities no longer exist. So as I was saying earlier, such laws are often bad in concept and in implementation. Advisers have consistently said for decades now that this law isn't a good one (even the 1968 Wootton Report soon before the law change).
FURTHER READING
All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform (Home Page accessed 24 September 2023) All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform. Available online at: https://www.appgdrugpolicyreform.org/
Piot, A. (12 September 2023) Empowering the ACMD: Evidence-Based Solutions to the UK'S Drug Problem (Research Report) Centre for Evidence-Based Drug Policy (Conservative Drug Policy Reform Group). Available online at: https://www.cdprg.co.uk/
You can also write to your MP of course, to express your own views. You can do this independently, but please consider doing so as part of the Seed Our Future Campaign using the template. Available online at: https://www.seedourfuture.co.uk/get-involved/