As part of a controversial new drug policy set to be piloted in a handful of London boroughs, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced his plans to decriminalise possession of Class B drugs in the capital and end prosecutions of people under the age of 25 caught in possession of cannabis.
The strategy is reportedly still in the early stages of planning, but according to The Telegraph, young people caught in possession of weed and other Class Bs—like ketamine and speed—will be offered ‘speeding course-style classes or counselling’ instead of being arrested.
Despite opposition from both Conservative and Labour MPs, the new rules are to be applied in Lewisham, Bexley and Greenwich as part of a pilot scheme.
The decision to end the prosecution of young users of cannabis and Class Bs was inspired by research carried out by the Mayor of London’s own team that suggested police time would be put to better use targeting more serious and violent crimes.
The new announcement stands in stark contrast against the government’s own 10-year drugs strategy revealed in December, which would see “lifestyle users” potentially losing passports or driving licences if caught with Class A drugs.
“What we’re also saying is we’re not going to sit idly by when you have lifestyle users also using Class A drugs,” Boris Johnson said, “and we’re going to be coming down tougher on them. We are looking at doing things to tackle those so-called lifestyle drug users who don’t think they are part of the problem. In the end, all the demand is helping to create the problem.
“The 300,000 problem drugs users, you’ve got to deal with what is going on there, you’ve got to make sure they are given rehab, you’ve got to come down tough on the county lines gangs, but you’ve also got to think about what is happening with the demand, the economic advantage that is given to the gangs by the lifestyle users as well.”
Oh the Labour side, party leader Sir Keir Starmer has been just as vocal about his own opposition to relaxing drug laws.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Starmer said: “On the drugs legislation, I’ve said a number of times and I will say again, I’m not in favour of us changing the law or decriminalisation. I’m very clear about that. I haven’t seen the detail of the proposals that you’ve reported on. As I understand it they are early measures, they are some sort of pilot. Obviously, we’ll look at those, but I’m very clear that we’re not in favour of changing the drugs laws.”
