Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions have taken place for the possession of cannabis excluding those with intent to distribute since 1 January 2020.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of prosecutions for possession of cannabis offences, in England and Wales, in the Outcomes by Offence tool, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1158218/outcomes-by-offence-2022.xlsx.

Using the HO offence code filter, select the following offences:

• ‘09261 - Having possession of a controlled drug - class B (cannabis, including cannabis resin, cannabinol and cannabinol derivatives)’

• ‘09266 - Having possession of a controlled drug - class C (cannabis, including cannabis resin, cannabinol and cannabinol derivatives) - historic’