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New Report Reveals UK Is World's Biggest Producer Of Legal Cannabis

New Report Reveals UK Is World's Biggest Producer Of Legal Cannabis

A report by the UN's International Narcotics Control Board has revealed the UK to be the world's biggest producer of legal cannabis

Ronan O'Shea

Ronan O'Shea

A new UN report has revealed the UK as the world's largest producer of legal cannabis for medical and scientific use.

The UK produced 95 tonnes of legal cannabis in 2016, double the previous year and 44.9 per cent of the world's total. It was followed by Canada, which produced 80.7 tonnes.

The report analyses the situation of drugs in the world, making recommendations on treatment policies and addressing problems such as trafficking and abuse.

With specific regard to the UK, the 2017 report says: "The economic cost related to drug abuse in the United Kingdom is estimated to be 10.7 billion pounds a year, with drug-related theft (e.g. burglary, robbery, shoplifting) alone costing 6 billion pounds."

The control board noted that the UK's Drug Strategy 2017 "encourages cooperative action between police, health agencies and local communities", focusing on reducing demand and supply, aiding recovery and contributing to global action on drugs.

The UK's strategy also targets "interventions to give drug users tailored support, including treatment, rehabilitation, employment and housing."

Much of the cannabis produced in the UK goes towards producing Savitext. The first cannabis-based medicine to be licensed in the UK, it is used to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis such as bladder problems, sleep disturbance and spasms.

In 2006, the Home Office licensed it so doctors could prescribe it privately (at their own risk), pharmacists could possess and dispense, and patients could possess it.

Despite this, access to legal cannabis is severely limited in the UK, particularly England.

PA

In a statement provided to LADbible, Niamh Eastwood, executive director of Release, an NGO, says: "The UK Government are willing to issue licenses under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 so that corporations can legally grow cannabis in the UK for the production of medical cannabis both domestically and for international markets.

"At the same time, the Government refuses to allow citizens to access medical cannabis legally, putting many people at risk of criminal prosecution if they decide to use the substance to relieve pain or debilitating symptoms, such as the case of childhood epilepsy.

"It seems that Ministers are putting profit and the interests of companies ahead of the genuine need of people to access medical cannabis. This is a travesty and hypocrisy at its worst."

Other European countries have experimented with carefully monitored decriminalisation models. Portugal decriminalised all drugs in 2001 to combat its then severe opioid and HIV crisis. It is viewed as a largely successful move, while Norway recently announced plans to become the first Scandinavian country to decriminalise all drugs.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, law, Cannabis, Drugs