A group of MPs, from different parties, went on a trip to Canada, and upon their arrival back to the UK they say they think the UK will fully legalise cannabis use within five to ten years.
Canada became the first G7 country to allow recreational use of the drug in 2018. Of the three politicians in the group one had a significant shift in his position. Labour’s David Lammy now backs legalisation, against his party’s official stance. David Lammy, Jonathan Djanogly, and Liberal Democrat Sir Norman Lamb were all filmed on their journey for a Radio 1 Newsbeat documentary called Legalising Cannabis: Canada’s Story.
Cannabis is currently a Class B drug in the UK and anyone caught with it could face up to five years in prison. But recently there has been a big change towards how medicinal cannabis products are viewed and used, which can now be legally prescribed to some patients. Usually people who suffer from serious seizures, and people who medicine doesn’t work for.
Whilst in Canada MP Sir Norman Lamb wanted to legally sample cannabis oil to try to help him sleep. He may be the only serving British MP to ever openly take a cannabis product on camera.
“Taking this oil is purely for sleeping for relaxation, I will take it before bed and before my flight home.”
It’s different to the cannabis oils available legitimately in the UK because it contained THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
“I was really anxious because I was chairing the technology and and science select committee and I was travelling back over night, and I thought if I get back with no sleep it will be a challenge. I slept incredibly well.
“I took the drops and I slept very well on the plane home, I actually slept through breakfast.”
