Home Office Shoots Down Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Cannabis Quandary
London’s mayor has stirred a storm, claiming that the city’s drugs commission wants to loosen the grip on cannabis. The Home Office, however, is not amused.
Mayor’s “Personal‑Use” Pitch
Under the commission’s plan, a handful of joints or a pinch of weed could be deemed “personal use” and therefore not a crime—no ticket, no pastoral drive. The mayor wants to swing the pendulum from zero tolerance to a gentler, “just the right amount” approach.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s Hardline
The department’s statement reads:
- “No intention to re‑classify cannabis as a Class B drug.”
- A firm stance on smoking or possession.
- However, police are “not really interested” in enforcing these laws.
London’s Political Backlash
Parties swap insults like street‑ball partners. City Hall’s Tory leader Susan Hall slammed the mayor on GB News: “You’re steering London into a crime wave, yet you want to add the smell of cannabis into that mix—legally!” She warned officers would be cursed with the impossible task of spotting legal from illegal quantities on the fly, while the mayor also wanders into a “big game” on mental health that, according to critics, makes matters worse.
Former advisor Nick Timothy of Theresa May echoed the sentiment: “He will do literally anything but what he was elected to do.” Ex‑Brexit negotiator Lord Frost threw another punch: “In nearly every part of London, cannabis is already de‑criminalised, smoked and traded with impunity. It’s the classic example of the authorities pretending to be on board.”
Home Office’s Commitment
In the closing remarks, the Home Office pledged:
“We’ll keep collaborating with health, police and community services to reduce drug use, boost timely treatment, and make streets safer. But we have no intention of re‑classifying cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act.”
That’s the official line, but London’s streets will be watching the next moves—because the drama is far from over.
