• The Lib Dems announced today that they support a “regulated cannabis market” in the UK
• The proposed policy would include: licensed shops to sell the drug to over-18s, the right to grow at home
• The policy also backs the Cannabis Social Club model

The Liberal Democrats have been making waves in the cannabis community following their manifesto launch.

The Party announced that they will support the full legalisation of cannabis in the UK if they are elected, going beyond the medicinal remits that some cannabis activists have been concerned about.

Julian Huppert, who is standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Cambridge, told the Associated Press that the UK’s current approach to cannabis was “a disaster,” causing significant mental and physical harm for young people.

The Lib Dem candidate explained why he was in support of a regulated cannabis market: “There are no age checks, and no controls on quality or strength. ‘Skunk’ is widespread and the only ID you need to buy it is a £20 note.

This shows the attitude of a growing number of non-consumers who believe that cannabis should be legalised despite still believing ‘skunk propaganda’ and not knowing their skunk from their medical cannabis (here’s a hint: it is often the same strains).

“Successive governments have ceded total control of a significant public health problem to organised crime.

“The honest and pragmatic response is to take responsibility for this situation and regulate the market.”

Norman Lamb, the Lib Dem candidate for North Norfolk, added: “We are criminalising young people, people have no idea what they are buying so there is a major health risk.

Speaking from a position of empathy, the politician added: “I am personally opposed to drugs and indeed to excessive alcohol consumption because of the health risks, and as a parent I absolutely want to discourage our adult sons from smoking or drinking or other harmful substances but the whole issue is what is the best way of dealing with this issue as the war on drugs has been a catastrophic failure.”

Cannabis is currently illegal, in all capacities, in the UK, carrying the potential for a lengthy jail stint if caught in possession of the medicinal herb. Possession currently holds a potential five years’ jail sentence, while supply could land you up to 14 years.

Will this announcement by the Lib Dems shock the other parties into announcing their own cannabis policies? Or will the Tories and Labour maintain that their current approach to cannabis is working?

What do you think? Have your say and join the conversation by tweeting @ISMOKEMAG

A note from Tyler Green:

Skunk propaganda is everywhere. Even politicians supporting legalisation are talking about “The dangers of skunk” like they’re the Sun in 2005.

This drives me crazy, and I’ll be writing an article about how damaging this is to the legalisation campaign soon.

Keep toking.