by UK police forces are engaging in the de facto decriminalization of cannabis without government approval, with drug possession charges falling to an all-time low.
Despite drug use being at its highest point since 2007, the number of people charged with cannabis use has reportedly hit an all-time low, with police in the UK now accused of engaging in a de facto decriminalization policy of the drug, although no such ordinance has been ratified by British lawmakers.
In fact, in recent days there have been some voices about limiting the use of the drug. UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman is said to be interested in reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule A drug – like heroin and cocaine – although Downing Street has already rejected such a rumored proposal to simply see that the law is properly enforced which already exists.
According to his report The Telegraphthe percentage of people charged with drug possession fell from 26 percent seven years ago to just 16 percent this year.
Some forces have even seen prosecutions drop below 10%, with unnamed sources telling the publication that there is an “undercurrent” within forces questioning “what the difference is between alcohol and cannabis in terms of public demand services and the overall effect on society”.
“There’s so much risk around Class A drugs like heroin, cocaine and crack that that’s where we’re focused,” the source said. “Our priorities are keeping society safe and we simply don’t have the resources to go after everyone who is in possession of cannabis.”
Scottish cannabis users hospitalized with psychiatric problems up 74% since quasi-decriminalization https://t.co/EGRc8JuBrJ
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) February 2, 2022
As a consequence of this apparent stance, some now claim that British law enforcement is now engaging in a de facto decriminalization of the drug, despite the fact that no such move has been authorized by any executive branch of government in the UK.
“It’s decriminalization in secrecy without a doubt,” said David Wilson, a former prison warden who now serves as an emeritus professor of criminology at the University of Birmingham.
Such a position has been advocated by the broadcaster Peter Hitchens, who criticized a recent suggestion that the UK government could reclassify cannabis as a drug like cocaine and heroin as junk if the country’s police are unwilling to enforce restrictions.
“As long as the police don’t pursue possession, it makes absolutely no difference what the charge is,” Hitchens, a prominent critic of the drug, wrote online, describing the campaign to reclassify the drug as a “political post.”
“If you did fight this marijuana more effectively, you would almost certainly reduce violent crime as well, but that’s another unspoken thing,” he also argued in a recent interview with British television network TalkTV.
Meanwhile, suggestions that the drug could be reclassified – despite apparently being backed by people within the Conservative party, as well as some senior UK law enforcement officials – were shot down by Number 10, with a spokesman of Prime Minister Liz Truss to say the Cabinet wants to focus on other ways to tackle crime and drug use in Britain.
In fact, the “make marijuana a class ‘A'” campaign is empty political endorsement. As long as the police aren’t pursuing possession, it doesn’t really matter what the charge is. AS to be a “gateway” drug. Marijuana is one of the most dangerous drugs out there, on its own account. https://t.co/0KvJEleiQb
— Peter Hitchens (@ClarkeMicah) October 9, 2022
