This debate pack is prepared for the Westminster Hall debate on the e-petition relating to making the production, sale and use of cannabis legal on 12 October at 4.30pm. Debate packs are produced quickly after the announcement of parliamentary business. They are intended to provide a summary or overview of the issue being debated and identify relevant briefings and useful documents, including press and parliamentary material. More detailed briefing can be prepared for MPs on request.
Debate pack: E-petition relating to making the production, sale and use of cannabis legal (263 KB , PDF)
This debate pack is prepared for the Westminster hall debate on 12 October 2015 on the e-petition relating to making the production, sale and use of cannabis legal. The E-petition has been signed by over 220,000 people so far, and following consideration by the House of Commons Petitions Select Committee was scheduled for a debate. The E-petition states that:
Cannabis is currently controlled as a class B substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (it has previously also been a class C substance). This means that possession carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Supplying cannabis can result in up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
A Government response to the petition has been published, this says that scientific evidence shows that cannabis is harmful to health and there are no plans to legalise the substance as this will not address the harms. The response also states that to legalise cannabis would sent the wrong message to young people and may increase drug use.
There are mental and physical health effects associated with cannabis use. Short term mental health effects can include disorders of perception, impaired memory and anxiety. There is also evidence regular cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of developing a psychotic illness. However, only a minority of young people who use cannabis will develop a psychotic illness. Recent studies have attempted to compare cannabis harms with those from other substances.
The medicinal use of cannabis has been the subject of much debate recently. Currently, no form of cannabis can legally be supplied or possessed for medical use in the UK without a specific license from the Home Office. Such a license exists for one commercially available cannabis extract, Sativex, which is also the only form of cannabis extract to hold a medicines marketing authorisation (licenced for treatment of muscle spasm in multiple sclerosis).
Debate pack: E-petition relating to making the production, sale and use of cannabis legal (263 KB , PDF)
The Infected Blood Public Inquiry recommended that the government should set up a compensation scheme for those infected and affected by contaminated blood, blood products and tissue. The government accepted this recommendation and made regulations to establish the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme in August 2024.
The NHS will pay a subscription fee to pharmaceutical companies, which will give it access to new antimicrobial drugs for drug-resistant infections.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat to public health. This briefing provides information on the causes and implications of the development and spread of AMR and about UK and international action to address it.
