The UK is The World’s Biggest Producer of Legal Cannabis
A report from the United Nations revealed that the UK is now the world’s leading producer of legal medicinal cannabis. In 2016, the United Kingdom produced 95 tonnes of legal cannabis, which is more than twice the amount of the previous year – and 44.9 percent of the world’s total production. Canada followed close behind, producing 80.7 tonnes of legal cannabis.
The majority of the cannabis produced by the UK is being used in the production of Savitext, the first cannabis-based medicine licensed in the UK. Savitext is currently being used to treat multiple sclerosis symptoms, including bladder issues, sleeping problems, and spasms.
However, despite the UK being the world’s leading legal cannabis producer, the laws regarding the use of cannabis are far behind other European countries. Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001, due to a severe opioid and HIV crisis – a move that has been very successful. Similarly, Norway recently announced its plans to become the first Scandinavian country to decriminalize all drugs.
Niamh Eastwood, the executive directer at Release’s – a NGO and UK’s national center of expertise on drugs, had this to say:
“The UK Government are willing to issue licenses under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 so that corporations can legally grow cannabis in the UK for the production of medical cannabis both domestically and for international markets.
“At the same time, the Government refuses to allow citizens to access medical cannabis legally, putting many people at risk of criminal prosecution if they decide to use the substance to relieve pain or debilitating symptoms, such as the case of childhood epilepsy.
“It seems that Ministers are putting profit and the interests of companies ahead of the genuine need of people to access medical cannabis. This is a travesty and hypocrisy at its worst.”
