UK Drug Policy

We are pleased to present Professor Mike Barnes latest view on events since new government legislation on Medicinal Cannabis was passed on 1st November 2018. In this update from Mike, he discusses the reality of how legislation has been embraced and what changes have actually occurred. Of significance, is the observation that (at the time […]

The highly regarded Professor Alex Stevens, discusses his latest BMJ editorial, focussed on Cannabis legislation in the UK. In this short video Alex explores what has happened since the Home Office moved Cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2. He talks about the concerns that the NHS have about it’s use and the reality that […]

Dr Amir Englund from Kings College presents a very interesting insight into Cannabis. Amir has spent the last 8 years looking at the effects of Cannabis. Amongst the topics Amir discusses are potency and how it affects the user, the UK Cannabis market, how Cannabis has altered and offers some informed perspectives on psychosis and […]

Highly respected and world renowned Professor David Nutt, talks about his background, the creation of Drug Science and the highly innovative analysis being undertaken. David also discusses the medical potential of certain drugs and how UK Drug Policy currently constrains important research.

Eddie Jacobs, Policy Lead at The Beckley Foundation talks about some of the ground breaking Psychedelic research currently being conducted. Eddie explains how many mental health conditions could benefit from this research and how current UK Drug policy applicable to Schedule 1, is hampering this at every turn.

Baroness Meacher talks in depth about the process of achieving revised legislation for Medicinal Cannabis, her experiences as Co-Chair of the APPG and the broader question of Drug Policy in the UK

Neil Woods, chairman of Leap UK, author of Good Cop, Bad War, and long time undercover police officer, who spent many years infiltrating the UK’s biggest drug gangs, presents a passionate and sincere view on why UK Drug Policy needs urgent reform.

Peter Reynolds of CLEAR explains how and why reform is necessary; not just for cannabis, but for all drugs.

Arfon Jones was elected the Police and Crime Commissioner for north Wales on 5 May 2016.  Following a twenty-year career with North Wales Police ending in 2008 when he retired at the rank of Inspector, Arfon has campaigned for the drugs laws to be relaxed and believes that cannabis should be legalised for medicinal use.

Eddie Jacobs, Policy Lead at The Beckley Foundation talks about why UK Drug Policy needs urgent reform.

Jason Reed is the Executive Director of LEAP UK. Jason has worked in Drug Policy as a writer/blogger for many well-known, international journals and media platforms. Here he discusses the reasons why UK Drug Policy is failing and why reform is needed.

Danny Kushlick, founder of Transform Drugs, the UK’s leading drug reform reform think-tank, talks in depth about all things drug related and the origins of prohibition.

Norman Lamb Liberal Democrats MP discusses the ‘unmitigated and catastrophic disaster’ of the war on drugs.

Richard Hurley from the BMJ reaffirms the common request from the BMJ, RSPH, Faculty of Public Health, BMA and the Royal College of Physicians, for drug decriminalisation in the UK.

Mike Barton – Durham Constabulary on UK Drug Reform. Mike talks about the dangers, the relationship between enforcement and violent crime and his greatest fear: ‘that we are creating a latter day Mafia in the UK’.