The government has responded to a petition, signed by 204,684 people at the time of writing, calling for the ‘production, sale and use of cannabis’ to be legalised.
The author of the petition, James Owen, argues that relaxing the draconian laws surrounding the plant ‘could bring in £900million in taxes every year, save £400 million on policing cannabis and create over 10,000 new jobs’.
Unfortunately for cannabis activists across the nation, the government’s response, has confirmed that they will not consider legalising the Class B drug.
A government spokesman said: “Substantial scientific evidence shows cannabis is a harmful drug that can damage human health. There are no plans to legalise cannabis as it would not address the harm to individuals and communities.”
Clark French, cannabis activist and founder of United Patients Alliance, told UNILAD:
The governments response is embarrassingly out of date with science, Prohibition fails to protect the vulnerable and often leaves patients forced to go to the black market. Cannabis has been proven to be a medicine. It is a dishonest government that continues to deny people legal access to cannabis and its therapeutic potential.
He added: “I’m not surprised [at the government’s response], it will just mean more people get pissed off and get active trying to change it.”
Chris is a trending and viral news editor at UNILAD.