The Met’s view on decriminalising cannabis
In May, the London Drugs Commission released its 320-page report, “The cannabis conundrum: a way forward for London”.1
The report recommends removing natural cannabis from the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDA)2 and instead regulating it under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 (PSA).3 4
This approach stops short of full legalisation but advocates for decriminalisation to reduce criminal justice burdens and address public health concerns.
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will meet tomorrow to question the Met and Deputy Mayor on the findings of the London Drugs Commission report, and how the Met and the Mayor will help push forward any recommendations.
Other topics of discussion include the Met and Deputy Mayor’s response to the Spending Review, the A New Met for London Plan, as well as vetting reforms and the Independent Sentencing Review.
The guests are:
- Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime
- Matt Jukes, Deputy Commissioner, Metropolitan Police Service
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 18 June 2025 from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- The London Drugs Commission, The Cannabis Conundrum: a way forward for London, March 2025
- The main purpose of the Act is to prevent the misuse of controlled drugs and achieves this by imposing a complete ban on the possession, supply, manufacture, import and export of controlled drugs except as allowed by regulations or by licence from the Secretary of State.
- The Act makes it an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess with intent to supply, possess on custodial premises, import or export psychoactive substances; that is, any substance intended for human consumption that is capable of producing a psychoactive effect.
- The London Drugs Commission, The Cannabis Conundrum: a way forward for London, March 2025, pg.262
- Marina Ahmad AM, Chair of the Police and Crime Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Police and Crime Committee.
- Read the agenda in full.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251727 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.