Law, Order and Cannabis UK

Could effective regulation of a legal cannabis sector extinguish the illicit market?’

APPG for CBD Products AGM

House of Commons Committee Room 12, Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster

“In 2018, the Institute of Economic Affairs estimated that the UK's cannabis black market was worth £2.6 billion per year. However, in geographies where cannabis has been legalised, it’s been shown that clear, robust regulation can see such illicit markets stall, with existing consumers redirected to legal businesses with a trusted, regulated, and competitively priced supply. Could such a process be adopted in the UK, with licensed sales of safer, regulated cannabis displacing the more dangerous strains, while generating billions in tax that could be spent on services such as mental health?

In this meeting we will explore the lessons to be learned and the benefits to be had by implementing robust, transparent and well-policed cannabis regulations. The meeting will be chaired by Crispin Blunt MP, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for CBD Products. Confirmed guest speakers so far include:

Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey”

The meeting will also be a chance to further discuss the APPG Plan for a Legal and Regulated UK Hemp and Cannabis Sector, in which we spell out the economic and employment opportunities for the UK (a potential £5.5billion in additional tax revenue and 594,000 jobs). We will also be discussing the major action points for the specific government departments including BEIS, the Home Office, Defra, and FSA to bring these opportunities to fruition.

The APPG Plan can be downloaded here