Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will commission a review of the potential impact of cannabis decriminalisation and legalisation abroad on levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in the UK.

There are no current plans to commission a review of the potential impact of cannabis decriminalisation and legalisation abroad on levels of crime and anti-social behaviour (‘ASB’) in the UK.

The Government recognises the clear scientific evidence of the harms of cannabis and has no plans to change the law. Cannabis is an addictive substance and is controlled as a Class B drug.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (‘ACMD’), the Government’s independent advisory body on drugs, has previously commented that the use of cannabis is a significant public health issue and can unquestionably cause harm to individuals and society. The ACMD considered the question of cannabis harms most recently in its 2018 contribution to the work on policy relating to cannabis-based products for medicinal use.

We are working closely with partners overseas in source and transit countries to stem the supply of drugs into the UK, as part of an overall approach including law enforcement activity, investment in drug treatment and recovery, and prevention to reduce demand, in order to minimise crime and ASB on our streets.