Cannabis
Debate between Norman Lamb and Paul Flynn(9 years, 1 month ago)
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Norman Lamb
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her intervention. Of course, my suggestion was speculation, but very many young people—about a third—choose to take cannabis at some stage. As the right hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden said earlier, that percentage of the population choosing to use cannabis starts to undermine the rule of law. Perhaps the percentage is a third and not a half, but one can make a reasonable judgment that a significant proportion of this Government will have used cannabis at some point. That is a reasonable assumption to make, yet the Government appear to be comfortable with other people in this country ending up with a criminal record. That is what I find distasteful and that is what has to be challenged. We need policy based on evidence, which focuses on health and not criminal justice.
Norman Lamb
I am conscious that other people want to contribute to the debate, so I must remain disciplined or I will be told off by Mr Evans.
The case is overwhelming. I urge the Government to act and listen to the evidence.