Where do other parties stand on cannabis now some Tories are having a change of heart?

Left Foot Forward

Tory grandee William Hague has written in favour of cannabis decriminalisation. But where do other parties stand on the matter?

William Hague was never one to hide from the limelight, but he surpassed himself this week with a Telegraph op ed urging his party to legalise cannabis.

Drawing on the example of 12 year-old Billy Caldwell, whose epilepsy treatment includes drops of cannabis oil, Lord Hague called current drug legislation “at odds with common sense.”

And while Home Secretary Sajid Javid said the classification and penalties for possessing the drug will not change, he did confirm that a review on the therapeutic use of cannabis will take place.

Whether the Conservatives are having a progressive moment, or realising that more legal drugs to tax would come in very handy when the National Health Service is being starved of funds while on their watch, it’s hard to tell. But where do other parties stand on the issue?

Labour Party

Leader Jeremy Corbyn has made his views on cannabis quite clear when he argued during an interview for the drug to be made legal for medicinal use.

And this Monday, his shadow home secretary Diane Abbott confirmed that the party would support the prescription of cannabis oil.

The shadow home secretary went on to add:

“We will also review drugs policy to address all issues of public health. The government should stop being so heavy-handed and bureaucratic and put the welfare of children first.”

Other Labour MPs such as deputy leader Tom Watson and former leader Ed Miliband, as well as Labour peer Lord Adonis, came in support of the policy.

Liberal Democrats

The Lib Dems go a little further from Labour, calling for a “regulated cannabis market” – which would presuppose the recreational use of the drug.

And today, former health minister Norman Lamb said:

“The Liberal Democrats are the only party campaigning for a regulated cannabis market in UK, with robust and responsible licensing, as opposed to a market run by criminals who have absolutely no interest in the welfare of drug users.

“It is time that Theresa May faced reality. The War on Drugs has been an unmitigated disaster and is now beyond any rational defence.”

The policy was controversially part of the party’s 2017 general election manifesto. And Lamb himself has been campaigning on the matter for years.

Greens

The Greens have been for decrim ever since the party was founded in 1990.

And debating the matter on the BBC Daily Politics show today, Green MP Caroline Lucas said:

“I don’t want to say it’s alright to smoke drugs. What I want to do is look at the evidence that reduces the harm that comes with smoking drugs. Why don’t we have an impact assessment of the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act? There aren’t many rules on our statutory book that have been there for 50 years without having been looked at again. As a result we could then have an evidence-based approach to this issue that reduces harm.”

Her party’s co-leader Jonathan Bartley also supported a legislative review, calling for evidence to inform the law on the uses of the drug.

SNP

The Scottish National Party supported the use of cannabis for medical purposes at its 2016 conference.

Plaid Cymru

The Welsh party stands on similar lines ever since its own conference voted on the policy in 2001.

Leader Leanne Wood tweeted:

“Never thought I would say it, but I agree with William Hague on this. The war on cannabis has been long lost. It’s time for a different approach.”

With a growing number of health professionals supporting the decriminalisation of the soft drug, it’s time for progressive politicians to come together in Parliament and make law change happen.

Joana Ramiro is a reporter for Left Foot Forward. You can follow her on Twitter for all sorts of rants here. 

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