Downing Street has claimed that the prime minister has ‘no plans’ to make marijuana a Class A drug, after it emerged that Suella Braverman is ‘receptive’ to the idea.
Liz Truss is said to be focussed on ‘cracking down’ on illegal drug use rather than on reclassification – which would have seen weed put in the same category as crack cocaine and heroin.
Her Home Secretary, Ms Braverman, believes cannabis has been ‘effectively’ legalised and is not properly policed, according to a Home Office source.
They claimed that Ms Braverman is on the same side as influential Tories who want to see the drug upgraded from a Class A to a Class B substance.
But after the revelations emerged – and faced heavy criticism from a number of observers – today the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘There’s no plans to change the laws around cannabis.
‘Our priority is on cracking down on illegal drugs and the crime they drive. We’ve launched a drug strategy backed by record investment to deliver a whole-system approach to tackling supply and demand.’
Ms Braverman was said to be open to giving cannabis the highest classification, which would have seen the maximum sentence for possession increased from five to seven years in prison.
The Sunday Times reported that Ms Braverman was considering the move because she sees it as a ‘gateway’ drug.
But a Home Office source had said it was ‘a very big stretch of the imagination’ to say she wanted the drug upgraded – but added that their boss was ‘receptive’ to ideas put forward by Conservative police and crime commissioners, who had called for the tougher stance.
‘Her position on this is that effectively cannabis has been legalised by not being policed properly’ they explained.
‘We need to focus attention on changing that.’
Asked whether No 10 was overruling the Home Secretary on the issue, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: ‘I think you’re referring to reports over the weekend, based on sources.
‘I haven’t seen anything from the Home Secretary herself on that position and obviously I’ve given you the Government’s stance on this.’
Girl, 5, killed in petrol station explosion 'was buying birthday cake for mum'A Home Office spokesperson had said yesterday that weed’s classification ‘is subject to review.’
The change would have come in stark contrast to many other countries across the world, which are looking to liberalise their drug laws – with even the USA moving to pardon weed users.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted before Number 10’s intervention: ‘As Biden pardons thousands for cannabis possession, Braverman pushes the UK further behind.
‘The War on Drugs has failed, disproportionately targeting working-class and minority ethnic people.
‘Stop criminalising communities and invest in them instead.’
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