UK Could Make Millions From Legalizing Cannabis - New Report

Cannabis is a Class B drug and anyone caught in possession of it could face up to five years in jail and a fine. But legalizing cannabis wouldn’t just boost Treasury coffers, it could also save $304 million (£200 million) in court and police costs, according to the report which was set up to look at the "potential fiscal impact of introducing a regulated cannabis market in the UK".

The report concludes that legalizing and regulating the cannabis market would "generate notable tax revenue" and begs the question as to why the British government continues to refuses to do so, if there is potential for such profits.

During a recent parliamentary debate on legalizing cannabis, Labour MP Paul Flynn offered an answer to that question.

"Since the decisions taken in the 1970s, governments have been denying the truth that is before them: the attempt to reduce drugs in prisons has been a continuing, abject failure…That failure has been going on for about 45 years…No government has had the sense to introduce a policy that could be described as intelligent."

And Peter Lilley, Conservative MP who also attended the debate suggested another answer to the question why the government still refuses to legalize cannabis.

"Those who are motivated by moral disapproval jump to the conclusion that because something is morally wrong, it should be against the law. Lots of things are morally wrong that are not against the law….We would be a healthier and better country if we gave people that moral responsibility, without saying that it is something that we approve of.

"Those of us who disapprove of certain decisions should make the moral arguments against them, rather than dressing them up as, or hiding behind, largely spurious and bogus health concerns, which are at best greatly exaggerated, and at worst non-existent," said Lilley.

Cannabis is uncontrolled and available in every village, town and city in the UK. 216 tonnes of cannabis was smoked in the UK in the past year and 22 million people aged 16 to 59 are thought to have used the drug in that time.

According to figures from the Association of Chief Police Officers, the number of commercial cannabis farms is on the rise. Between 2008 and 2011, there was a 15% increase with 3,032 compared to 7,865. Rates of cannabis use by young people in Britain are amongst the highest in Europe.

The Conservative government does not consider a review of UK drugs laws as a priority – but the revelation of the amount of money it could make if it did, might alter some minds.