Skip to main content
court decision hearing gavel court decision hearing gavel

Support For Cannabis Pardons Increases In Canada

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Policy.

Canada was the first G-7 nation to pass a nationwide adult-use cannabis legalization measure, which occurred just over four years ago. To-date Canada still serves as the only national adult-use cannabis market where anyone of legal age can purchase products beyond the low-THC variety.

Only two other nations have passed national legalization measures, with Uruguay having done so years before Canada, and Malta having done so late last year. Unlike Canada, Uruguay limits legal adult-use cannabis purchases to residents only, and Malta does not currently allow for-profit sales to anyone.

One area where Canada’s legalization model is clearly lacking is when it comes to pardons. United States President Joe Biden recently announced that he will be pardoning anyone convicted of a federal cannabis possession charge, and that has ramped up calls in Canada for the government at all levels to do the same.

Leading up to legalization in 2018 in Canada there was strong support for automatic pardons, yet the provision did not make it into the final measure. Instead, the fee for applying for a cannabis pardon was eliminated as a political compromise, although that still left all of the hoops that needed to be jumped through.

“According to a poll by The Globe and Mail/Nanos Research, however, 62 per cent of Canadians support or somewhat support the calls for a pardon for every person with a criminal record for marijuana possession.” The Globe and Mail stated back in 2017.

That level of support appears to have increased between 2017 and 2022, with new polling showing a slight uptick. Per Research Co:

More than three-in-five Canadians are in favour of a plan to pardon people convicted of simple possession of marijuana, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, 64% of Canadians agree with the federal government providing expungement orders to people convicted of possession of cannabis for personal use with no intent to traffic.

It still appears to be unclear how many people in Canada have one or more related cannabis convictions on their record that would be eligible for expungement. Starting in the 1970s tens of thousands of people were convicted of possession every year in Canada. In 2015 alone it’s estimated that roughly 49,000 charges were applied by law enforcement.

Cannabis pardons and expungements need to be automatic, and that needs to be the practice everywhere, including in Canada.

The harms of prohibition are numerous, and the wrongs of the past will never be righted until every person that was ever convicted of a cannabis offense is freed from the burden of having it follow them around everywhere that they go. And the burden of making that happen falls squarely on the government, not the victim.

cannabis leaf plant cannabis leaf plant cannabis leaf plant cannabis leaf plant

Leaked German Legalization Points From Health Minister – Homegrow, Retail Stores, And Possession Of Up To 20 Grams

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business, Policy.

This morning it is being reported that long-awaited key points of a German adult-use legalization plan were made available to Germany’s media community. The provisions being leaked out there are reportedly from Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), and are providing tremendous insight into what a finalized coalition plan may look like. Obviously, there’s still a lot of political lifting to be performed between now and when someone is physically purchasing regulated adult-use cannabis in Germany, however, this is the first look of its type into what the governing coalition is at the very least strongly considering, if not outright trying to implement.

Last year Germany elected a new coalition government, and after the dust settled on the election results the coalition made it abundantly clear that it was going to pursue adult-use legalization and the launch of a regulated national industry. To date, only Uruguay, Canada, and Malta have passed a national adult-use measure, and out of the three, only Canada has a regulated adult-use sales system that is open to anyone of legal age regardless of citizenship status.

What Provisions Are Involved?

According to the initial reporting from RND, the legalization components that are involved originated from the Health Ministry, and the plan “is currently being coordinated among the [other] ministries involved,” which is leading many to believe that there still could be some changes made to what is being floated out there. As I previously touched on, there’s still a lot of time left on the clock to use a sports metaphor.

In my opinion, the provisions were leaked versus announced in order to see what the reactions were from the public and international community, with the possible plan to make tweaks accordingly. That’s just conjecture on my part, but it is a common political communications tactic, particularly with legislation of this magnitude. It’s a great way to gain feedback and insight while also mitigating controversy. With that being said, below are some of the major components involved in today’s news:

  • 18 years old is the legal age to purchase/possess cannabis
  • A 20 gram possession limit
  • Home cultivation of up to 2 plants
  • A 15% THC cap limit on products sold to people over 21
  • A 10% THC cap limit on products sold to people 18-21
  • Retail buffer zones around schools and other specified establishments
  • A general ban on industry advertising
  • Outlets would include, but not be limited to, pharmacies
  • Possibly allowing shops to have ‘consumption options’
  • A possible tax assessment based on THC content
  • All cannabis for the market will be cultivated domestically

“The Federal Ministry of Health did not confirm the RND report on request and referred to ongoing votes in the federal government. A Lauterbach spokesman said the departments of health, justice, economy, nutrition and the Federal Foreign Office were working together to implement the coalition agreement. Lauterbach had announced a key issues paper for the fall and a draft law for the end of the year.” RND stated in its reporting.

Room For Improvement And Clarification

Here in the United States, where I live, the state-level legal age for cannabis is 21. The legal age in Canada and Uruguay is also 18. Malta, which was the first nation to legalize cannabis for adult use in Europe, also has a legal age of 18, although sales are currently not permitted in Malta. I have always felt that if someone is old enough to vote for legalization, or for candidates that support it, then they are old enough to participate in a legal market. Regardless, allowing industry access to people 18-21 obviously expands the market base, albeit with the apparent potential for a different THC product limit for that subset of customers.

The 20 gram possession limit is considerably greater than what is allowed in Malta away from a person’s home. In Malta, the possession limit away from a person’s home is only 7 grams, although up to 50 grams is allowed within a person’s home, along with up to four plants. The two plant cultivation limit that is being reported out of Germany is drawing some pushback, as many feel that the limit is too low. One thing that could prove to be problematic is the possession limit combined with the plant limit, as even one healthy cannabis plant cultivated in a closet can yield far greater than 20 grams of cannabis. It seems that more could be done to harmonize the two limits in order to help mitigate any issues for consumers come harvest time.

The retail buffer zones and advertising bans were to be expected, and I certainly think that they will ultimately make it into whatever final version of a legalization model is adopted. Advertising bans can be tricky to enforce given how many different ways people get their information these days, particularly on the internet, however, we will have to wait and see what enforcement strategies may entail. The reported THC caps may be the most confusing aspect of what was reported today, in that it seems to be unclear if that will apply to things like vape pen cartridges and cannabis concentrates. It’s common for products in other legal markets of those types to contain a considerably larger THC percentage than 10-15%. That’s something that will need to be further addressed in a finalized plan.

The German Retail Model Is Taking Shape

Arguably the most insightful components of today’s news related to how cannabis will be sourced, sold, and consumed in Germany once a legal, regulated market is launched. Ever since a push to legalize was announced, many cannabis observers around the world wondered if adult-use cannabis sales would be limited to pharmacies? If what is being reported today eventually becomes adopted, then the retail options for consumers will be far more robust. In addition to pharmacies, cannabis would also be sold in dedicated stores, and possibly via the internet, which is currently an option in Canada.

Other components that were leaked today could change and evolve, however, the basic sales outlet model provisions are likely to remain the same from a macro perspective. Again, there’s still a lot of lifting to be done to get something across the finish line, yet I think it’s safe to assume that once legal sales are launched in Germany they will be allowed via a number of different ways beyond just at pharmacies. Legal social consumption lounges seem to be a very real possibility too based on what we have seen today.

The domestic cultivation part also seems to be a component that will be set in stone, at least for the foreseeable future, and the significance of that cannot be overstated. In order to get around issues with international and continental treaties, it sounds like all cannabis for the adult-use market will need to be produced within Germany’s borders. I assume that will be completely separate from medical products, which will presumably still be imported in addition to being produced domestically.

As I have pointed out countless times in my articles, the German market will not just involve consumers from Germany. Germany shares more borders with other countries than any other nation in Europe – nine total. When Germany inevitably launches legal adult-use sales, it will be largely doing so for the entire European continent, as well as for any tourists that will no doubt flock to Germany in record numbers from other continents to partake in the newly established freedoms. I don’t know exactly how much German cannabis supply will be needed to match the demand that will be flooding into Germany’s borders, but it’s a very safe bet that it’s going to be unlike anything that the legal market has ever seen before, and cultivation licenses within Germany’s borders are going to likely become the most sought after cannabis licenses on earth as a result.c

US Germany US Germany

Who Legalizes First – The United States Or Germany?

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

When it comes to cannabis policy there are two nations that likely have more eyes watching them right now than any other countries on the planet – Germany and the United States. It is no secret that many lawmakers in Germany are working really hard right now to determine which provisions should be included in a national cannabis legalization and industry model. It is also no secret that United States President Joe Biden recently tasked federal Departments with re-examining cannabis’ current status in the U.S.

Efforts to reform national cannabis policies in both countries are making headlines, and understandably so, as both Germany and the United States are home to two of the largest economies on earth, and both countries wield tremendous political influence around the world. However, that is not to say that the efforts in both nations are on the same trajectory or timeline, as that will almost certainly prove to not be the case. One nation is far more likely to legalize at the national level soon than the other one.

Germany Is ‘In The Lead’

One thing that is always important to point out is that nothing is guaranteed in the world of politics. With so much rhetoric being thrown around by lawmakers and aspiring lawmakers, especially these days, nearly everything needs to be taken with a grain of salt. As the old saying goes, ‘actions speak louder than words,’ and from that perspective Germany is clearly farther along in its effort to legalize nationally compared to the United States.

The current governing coalition in Germany previously announced direct intent to legalize cannabis for adult-use and to launch a regulated national industry. Since that time, many members of the governing coalition have engaged with stakeholders in multiple ways, gaining insight and feedback, and working meaningfully towards their goal. The process is not going as fast as many had hoped, however, just as Rome wasn’t built in a day the same is obviously true for a country trying to launch what will instantly become the world’s largest regulated cannabis market by far.

Compare that to the United States where things are much more fractured, both from a governing standpoint and an industry standpoint. Yes, President Biden did issue pardons for simple possession and tasked Department leaders with re-examining cannabis’ current federal status. However, that is not the same as Biden taking the lead on pushing for a regulated national industry. It’s quite possible that nothing could occur between now and when Biden is up for re-election, and it’s anyone’s guess where things go from there if/when he is not re-elected.

Furthermore, Biden can only do so much, as the burden for much of the work that needs to be performed lies on the shoulders of Congress. The current Congress has failed to get even a limited legalization measure passed, and with another election looming next month, the deck will be re-shuffled and likely in a manner that doesn’t move the needle. In fact, if the needle is moved, it will likely be in the wrong direction given historical midterm election trends in the U.S.

Adding To Momentum

Make no mistake – both the United States and Germany will legalize federally sooner rather than later, although, Germany is likely to do so on a quicker timeline compared to the U.S. Whereas Germany will presumably legalize nationally in one fell swoop, the U.S. will continue to see state after state pass their own legalization measures until the point where it reaches such a critical mass that it tips the scales. And just as every state that legalizes adds to the momentum for federal reform in the U.S., so too will legalization in Germany add to the momentum of efforts in the U.S.

The United States would be a larger domino between the two countries given that the United States has historically led the charge on prohibition and its economy is bigger. Yet, that doesn’t seem to be on the horizon in the U.S. The two largest economies behind the United States are China and Japan, and neither of those countries will be legalizing anytime soon, unfortunately. That puts the spotlight squarely on Germany, and once the German prohibition domino falls it’s going to speed things up everywhere else on earth, including in the United States.

canada flag canada flag

Health Canada Is Seeking Feedback After Four Years Of Legalization

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Canada was not the first country to legalize cannabis for adult-use, however, it was the first G-7 nation to do so, and the first to implement a nationwide, regulated adult-use cannabis industry that is open to anyone of legal age.

Uruguay is the only nation to have passed an adult-use legalization measure prior to Canada doing so. Yet, unlike Canada’s industry model, Uruguay limits adult-use sales to residents.

Legalization in Canada has certainly experienced its ups and downs, and by no means is it perfect. With that being said, it’s still the greatest cannabis policy and industry ‘experiment’ to-date, and much can be learned from the last four years.

On that note, Health Canada issued a statement today recapping its views regarding the last four years. Part of the statement urges people to share their feedback. Below is the statement in its entirety:

OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 17, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – Today, the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health issued the following statement about the Cannabis Act:

On this day in 2018, the Cannabis Act came into force, putting in place a new, strictly regulated framework for controlling the sale, possession, production and distribution of legalized and regulated cannabis for non-medical purposes.

Since this time, the Government of Canada has implemented a robust public health approach to help keep cannabis out of the hands of youth and to help ensure adults have access to a quality-controlled and regulated supply, while reducing the scope and scale of the illicit market.

The Cannabis Act has two important and critical objectives: first, it protects the health and safety of Canadians while serving as a flexible legislative framework that adapts and responds to the ongoing and emerging needs of Canadians; second, it provides for the establishment of a diverse and competitive legal industry made up of small and large players to displace the illicit market.

In the short time since legalization, more and more Canadians who consume cannabis are choosing to buy cannabis from legal retailers - according to the 2021 Canadian Cannabis Survey, 53% reported a legal storefront as their usual source, an increase from 41% in 2020.

Public education efforts play an important role in protecting the health and safety of Canadians, especially youth. We will continue to equip Canadians with trusted information about how to identify legal cannabis and lower their risk if they choose to consume.

To ensure the functioning of the Cannabis Act is continuously improving, Health Canada has launched an independent review of the legislation to examine the progress made towards achieving the Act’s objectives, and to help identify priority areas for improvement. An Expert Panel, chaired by Mr. Morris Rosenberg, will lead this credible and inclusive review.

As an initial step, an online engagement process has been launched and is open to all Canadians. We encourage you to read Taking Stock of Progress: Cannabis Legalization and Regulation in Canada and to share your views via the online questionnaire or through written feedback until November 21, 2022.

First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples are also invited to read and provide feedback by November 21, 2022, on the Summary from Engagement with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.

As we look to the future, the Government of Canada will continue to provide clear, consistent and evidence-based information on the health and safety effects of cannabis use to people across the country, so they can better understand the risks and make more informed choices.

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P.

Associated links
Reduce your risk: Choose legal cannabis 
Cannabis Resource Series – How to read and understand a cannabis product label 
Pursue your Passion campaign 
Authorized cannabis retailers in the provinces and territories 
Canada’s lower-risk cannabis use guidelines
Accidental ingestion of illegal “copycat” edible cannabis products causing serious harm to children: Public Advisory 
Canadian Cannabis Survey 2021: Summary

SOURCE Health Canada

For further information: Marie-France Proulx, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Maja Staka, Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, 343-552-5568; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983, media@hc-sc.gc.ca

cannabis seeds cannabis seeds

Argentina’s Government Launches Public Company To Provide Cannabis Seeds, Testing, And Training

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Business, Policy, Science.

Earlier this month Argentina’s government issued its first-ever license for domestic cannabis production. It was a big milestone for Argentina’s domestic cannabis industry. Another significant announcement was made this month by Argentina’s government which could have international implications.

Days ago Argentina’s government announced the launch of a new national company dedicated to pushing the nation’s cannabis industry forward. The company, called ‘Cannabis Conicet,’ will focus on providing the nation’s emerging cannabis industry with genetics, testing, and training. Per excerpts from InfoBae:

The legal cannabis universe is expanding rapidly. The Argentine State presented this Tuesday “Cannabis Conicet”, a national technology-based company dedicated to the marijuana plant industry, made up and directed by scientists from the organization, with the idea of ​​”allowing the democratization of production, distribution and access to cannabis and the hemp industry”, as announced by the Minister of Science and Technology, Daniel Filmus, during the premiere day.

The public company will be made up of professionals from the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (Conicet), the Arturo Jauretche National University (UNAJ) and the El Cruce Dr. Néstor Kirchner Hospital, but its authorities project that it will be a collective and federal work.

The new company seems to be primarily focused on the domestic industry in Argentina, with the ultimate goal right now appearing to be reducing Argentina’s reliance on the international cannabis community. For example, the term ‘scientific sovereignty’ was used by Ana Franchi, president of the Conicet, as part of the company’s announcement.

The development of tailored cannabis genetics, products, and other forms of intellectual property are going to play a very prominent role in the emerging cannabis industry going forward, and from that perspective, what Argentina is doing is a smart move.

Countries that solely rely on importing medical cannabis products from afar, which some nations currently do, will put those countries at a huge disadvantage once lawmakers finally decide to get on the right side of history.

While lawmakers that fit that description continue to drag their feet on cannabis reform and embracing the emerging cannabis industry domestically, countries like Argentina are stepping up their research and other scientific efforts. An opportunity cost clearly exists, and countries that are sitting on their hands need to get with the program as soon as possible.

saint kitts and nevis flag saint kitts and nevis flag

Prime Minister Of Saint Kitts And Nevis Predicts Busy Year For Domestic Cannabis Industry

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

The Caribbean region has long been home to a vibrant cannabis community. Jamaica is likely the first Caribbean nation that comes to mind when someone thinks of cannabis, however, several other nations are also home to robust cannabis communities.

Thanks to cannabis reform measures being passed, many Caribbean nations are also now home to emerging cannabis industries, although the dual island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is unfortunately not one of those. If the country’s new prime minister has his way, things will be changing soon.

Current Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew was originally elected to the National Assembly last August. Prime Minister Drew has wasted no time in coming out swinging in support of cannabis reform and launching a domestic cannabis industry. Per excerpts from The Voice:

ST KITTS and Nevis could become the latest Caribbean nation to establish a medical cannabis industry.

Prime Minister Terrance Drew told the St Kitts-Nevis Information Service that the country was behind other Caribbean countries in developing a medical cannabis industry.

“Antigua is ahead, St Vincent is ahead, Jamaica is ahead, and we know that people travel to these countries because they would have an industry that is well-controlled, well-monitored and so forth that allows for the use of marijuana.

And so, we will be on that path, and we will see a lot of action in that area within the first year,” he said.

Prime Minister Drew went on to explain different phases that the nation needs to pursue, with the goal of having a regulated industry that benefits the country’s citizens. Drew specifically mentioned that the nation would not be looking for outside help, and instead will try to create an industry relying solely on domestic resources in order to maximize the benefits and opportunities for citizens.

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a part of what is called the Citizenship by Investment program. Several other Caribbean nations are also part of the program, which involves offering fast-track citizenships to foreign investors in exchange for them making socio-economic contributions to the country that they are applying to.

Prime Minister Drew is hoping that the cannabis industry can reduce the nation’s reliance on the program.

insomnia sleep insomnia sleep

Study Associates Cannabis With Improved Sleep In Adults With PTSD

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a very serious issue all over the globe. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is estimated to be 3.9% in the general population, and a much higher rate for those that have lived in countries where war and conflict has occurred.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it.”

As with most health conditions, there are varying degrees of severity when it comes to PTSD, ranging from mild anxiety all the way to full blown panic attacks occurring regularly to the point that the patient can’t function. Flashbacks and regular nightmares are also symptoms of PTSD.

Fortunately, the cannabis plant has been found by a growing list of studies to help people that suffer from PTSD. A recent study in Israel found that cannabis use is associated with improved sleep among adults with PTSD. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Haifa, Israel: The use of cannabis prior to bedtime is associated with perceived improvements in sleep in subjects diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to data published in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders.

Israeli researchers assessed the impact of cannabis on sleep in a cohort of 77 PTSD patients. Study participants kept a daily journal where they recorded numerous sleep measures each morning.

Investigators acknowledged that the use of cannabis was associated with self-reported improvements in sleep onset and a reduction in the frequency of nightmares. Subjects who consumed products higher in CBD were less likely to report early awakenings.

“Our data suggest that MC [medical cannabis] may help reduce nightmares and [that] CBD in particular may be important for preventing early awakenings,” they wrote. “This provides a strong basis for further hypotheses testing, potentially through clinical trials, of the sleep-inducing effects of MC and for testing CBD in particular.”

Authors concluded, “Given the high comorbidity of PTSD symptoms and sleep disturbances and the potential for MC to have effects on both, a greater understanding of how patients experience the effects of MC on overall PTSD symptoms and sleep disturbances is warranted.”

Prior studies have similarly reported that cannabis products may be associated with improved sleep duration and with improvements in insomnia. The enactment of adult-use marijuana legalization has also been correlated with a decrease in the sale of over-the-counter sleep aid medications.

Full text of the study, “Post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep, and medical cannabis treatment: A daily diary study,” appears in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders. Additional information on cannabis and post-traumatic stress is available from NORML.

brain brain

People With A History Of Cannabis Use Do Not Exhibit More Severe Symptoms Of Psychosis

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Science.

Just because someone has consumed cannabis and suffers from mental health struggles, that does not automatically mean that the cannabis consumption caused the mental health issues that the person is unfortunately experiencing.

That may seem like a logical statement, however, cannabis opponents do everything that they can to try to skirt that fact. To make matters worse, the reefer madness mental health propaganda efforts that cannabis opponents pursue is often assisted by mainstream media coverage that echoes their talking points without any context, which is a huge disservice to society.

Mental health is a very serious issue, and it should be treated as such. Facts and science should lead the way, and with that in mind, the results of a new study out of New Zealand further debunks the ‘cannabis makes you crazy’ talking point of opponents. Below is more information about it via a news release from NORML:

Christchurch, NZ: Those with a history of cannabis consumption do not exhibit more severe symptoms of psychosis than do those with no history of regular use, according to longitudinal data published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

A team of New Zealand researchers assessed the relationship between marijuana use and the severity of psychotic symptomology in a cohort of over 1,200 subjects born in 1977. Investigators compared the symptom profile of cannabis consumers and non-consumers at age 18, 21, and at age 25.

Researchers reported that cannabis-consuming subjects were more likely than non-users to report experiencing a greater variety of psychotic symptoms overall. However, investigators acknowledged that consumers were not more likely to report experiencing severe symptoms.

Authors reported: “The present analyses sought to determine whether there was a qualitative difference in the kind of symptoms being reported by the two groups. … Both groups tended to report common, low-level symptoms (such as “having ideas or beliefs that others do not share”), and neither group was likely to report what would be considered as more severe positive symptoms of psychosis.”

They concluded: “Collectively, the results suggest that while those who were regular cannabis users reported a significantly greater number of symptoms than non-users, the symptom profile between the two groups did not differ, showing that there was no evidence of greater ‘severity’ among regular cannabis users.”

Although the use of cannabis and other controlled substances is more common among those with psychotic illnesses, studies indicate that lifetime incidences of marijuana-induced psychosis are relatively rare among those who do not already have a prior diagnosis of a psychiatric disease.

Full text of the study, “Cannabis use and patterns of psychotic symptomology in a longitudinal birth cohort,” appears in the New Zealand Medical Journal.

british flag britain british flag britain british flag britain british flag britain british flag britain british flag britain british flag britain british flag britain british flag britain british flag britain

Far More Britons Want Cannabis Laws Loosened Compared To Tightened

Written by Frank Schuler on . Posted in Policy.

Cannabis policy discussions in London have made considerable headlines in recent weeks, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan currently in somewhat of a political showdown with some of his political peers.

Mayor Khan is exploring the idea of reforming the way that law enforcement handles simple cannabis possession in London. The policy exploration is part of the work that a newly formed commission is performing at the behest of Mayor Khan. He recently indicated that calls from his political peers to refrain from pursuing the work would not deter him.

Additional headlines were made when it was reported that Home Secretary Suella Braverman was considering changing cannabis’ classification level to a more restricted status. The Prime Minister’s office has since made it clear that what is being reported will not happen, although it’s still unclear to what degree Braverman wants to pursue the concept in the future, if at all.

YouGov recently conducted a poll, asking Britons, “Do you think that the current cannabis laws should be tougher, less tough, or are about right?”

“Home secretary Suella Braverman has been reportedly planning to change cannabis from a class B drug to a class A But only 23% of Britons want to see cannabis laws made tougher, with 42% wanting less tough laws, and 19% thinking they’re ok as they are.” YouGov tweeted regarding the poll’s results.

Sixteen percent of poll participants indicated that they ‘don’t know’ in response to the question being posed to them. Obviously, 42% is not a majority, and for that matter the poll was not legally binding in any way.

However, the fact that only 23% of Britons indicated that they wanted cannabis laws to be made tougher is encouraging, and something that shouldn’t be ignored by lawmakers.