• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Home Secretary considering making cannabis Class A drug

Home> News

Published 08:29 10 Oct 2022 GMT+1

Home Secretary considering making cannabis Class A drug

Sue Braverman could make the change to class cannabis on the same level as meth

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

Home Secretary Suella Braverman is considering upgrading cannabis from a class B to a class A drug over fears that it could be linked to numerous health issues.

To be clear, class A drugs include the likes of cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, LSD, magic mushrooms and crystal meth, and possession can be punishable by up to seven years in prison.

If she follows through with the decision, Braverman, who became home secretary last month, would probably make a lot of enemies out of those calling to decriminalise the drug.

Braverman became home secretary in September 2022.
Mark Thomas / Alamy Stock Photo

Advert

According to a source familiar with Braverman’s thinking, cited by The Times, the politician has is strongly opposed to decriminalising weed as she believes it sends a 'cultural' and 'political' signal that usage is 'acceptable behaviour'.

Instead, the home secretary is said to have told allies she is on the 'same side' as a group of Conservative police and crime commissioners (PCCs) who believe the drug should be put in the same class as cocaine.

Braverman is also alarmed at evidence that suggests weed could be linked to issues such as psychosis, cancer and birth defects, and is expected to review the evidence before making a decision.

Last week, Dorset PCC David Sidwick claimed new health data on cannabis indicated a need to re-evaluate the penalties enforceable by law, saying: “We’re seeing it because it’s a gateway drug. If you look at the young people in treatment, the number one drug they are in treatment for is cannabis."

Cannabis is currently a class B drug.
Joe Bird / Alamy Stock Photo

Advert

Braverman is said to believe that deterring usage is critical when it comes to stunting the popularity of the drug among teenagers, with the source describing plans to 'scare people'. However, she is conscious that upgrading cannabis to a class A drug would present a new challenge for police resources that are already struggling.

Braverman's plans don't stop with the upgrading of cannabis, as she has also signalled intentions to crack down on middle-class drug users, with random drug testing in offices and educational campaigns highlighting links between cocaine use, criminal gangs and the exploitation of young people.

If the home secretary decides to go ahead with plans to upgrade weed to a class A drug, it is unclear whether she would need to refer the matter to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the public body which makes recommendations to the government.

Featured Image Credit: PA Images / Federico Magonio / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Drugs, Politics, UK News, Health

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is the Community Desk Lead at LADbible Group. Emily first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route. She went on to graduate with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University before contributing to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems. She joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features, and now works as Community Desk Lead to commission and write human interest stories from across the globe.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Brit teen ‘tortured into trafficking £200k-worth of cannabis’ as she shows shocking injury in court
  • UK doctor explains worrying reason they've had to open a ketamine clinic for children as young as 12
  • Mum thought working from home caused discoloured leg until discovering deadly truth from taking pill
  • Brit teen 'threatened with beheading' by gang to force her to smuggle £200k worth of cannabis

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
  • 5 hours ago

    Man who killed twisted murderer Jeffrey Dahmer explains why he did it

    The notorious serial killer was killed in 1994

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    Elon Musk forms his 'own political party' after fallout with Trump

    Looks like the tech billionaire isn't done with politics after all

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    Woman who lives in underground bunker with no windows reveals how much she saves on rent

    At least she's ready for the apocalypse

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    Man who chose to live underwater for 100 days to see what would happen to his body reveals shocking impact it had

    Dr Joseph Dituri spent 100 days at sea in 2023

    News