United Kingdom
Europe
#56 of 196 worldwide
#20 of 45 in Europe
A Class B drug; small amounts often end in a warning or community resolution. Medical cannabis is legal since 2018 but almost exclusively through private clinics.
History
- The United Kingdom allows medical cannabis13 to 15+2
- The United Kingdom moves cannabis back to Class B19 to 13−6
- The United Kingdom downgrades cannabis to Class C13 to 19+6
- Britain's Misuse of Drugs Act takes effect11 to 13+2
- Britain's Wootton Report says cannabis is less harmful than assumed
- Britain gives police the power to stop and search for drugs15 to 11−4
- Britain makes growing cannabis an offence20 to 15−5
- Britain bans cannabis98 to 20−78
Score breakdown ▏world average
Select a segment to show or hide the exact rules and sources.
Possession · 25%1/10adds 2.5 of 25 points
Cannabis is a Class B drug: possession carries up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine. In practice police in England and Wales use an escalation — a cannabis warning or community resolution first, a £90 penalty notice next, then arrest. Of those who do reach court, about 60% are fined and 20% conditionally discharged; immediate custody is uncommon and usually a month or less.
Personal cultivation · 25%1/10adds 2.5 of 25 points
Growing any number of plants is production of a controlled drug, with up to 14 years on indictment. A few plants for personal use typically bring a fine or community order.
Punishment & enforcement · 20%3/10adds 6.0 of 20 points
Mostly out-of-court disposals and fines for users, with wide variation between police forces. Production and supply are imprisonable and enforced.
Sharing & gifting · 10%1/10adds 1.0 of 10 points
Supply, including giving cannabis to a friend, carries up to 14 years.
Consumption · 10%1/10adds 1.0 of 10 points
Use is prosecuted through the possession offence. Letting your premises be used for smoking cannabis is a separate offence.
Legal access · 10%2/10adds 2.0 of 10 points
No legal adult-use source. Since November 2018 specialist doctors can prescribe cannabis; almost all of it — over 99% of prescriptions — comes through private clinics, which now serve tens of thousands of patients with flower delivered by pharmacy.
History
- The United Kingdom allows medical cannabis13 to 15+2
- The United Kingdom moves cannabis back to Class B19 to 13−6
- The United Kingdom downgrades cannabis to Class C13 to 19+6
- Britain's Misuse of Drugs Act takes effect11 to 13+2
- Britain's Wootton Report says cannabis is less harmful than assumed
- Britain gives police the power to stop and search for drugs15 to 11−4
- Britain makes growing cannabis an offence20 to 15−5
- Britain bans cannabis98 to 20−78
More context not part of the score
The Home Office licenses cultivation, mainly for pharmaceutical products and export, plus low-THC hemp. The UK is a large exporter of cannabis-based medicines.
Prescription flower, oils and vape cartridges via clinics; CBD products with negligible THC on general sale.
Legal since 1 November 2018, but only doctors on the specialist register may initiate it, and the NHS funds it for a handful of patients. The private route costs patients a consultation fee plus the product.
A caution or conviction shows on criminal-record checks and can affect work and travel; a cannabis warning is recorded but not shown on a standard check. Drug-driving has a very low THC limit.
All sources
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