The prime minister’s office has not moved forward with a proposal that would reclassify cannabis from a Class B to a Class A drug. A Downing Street spokesperson told The Guardian that there are “no plans” to make the change.
The Conservative Party in the United Kingdom proposed a plan that would have put cannabis in the same category as heroin and cocaine. The proposal was reportedly backed by Home Secretary Suella Braverman. If implemented, the plan would have meant harsher penalties for possession and potential life sentences in prison for dealers and producers.
The Sunday Times published an article stating that Braverman is strongly opposed to cannabis decriminalization. The source close to her said that she believes cannabis is a gateway drug and that decriminalization would send a cultural and political sign that using cannabis was acceptable behavior.
Class A drugs in the United Kingdom (UK) are considered the most serious. The maximum punishment for possession is seven years in prison and an unlimited fine. For supplying or producing Class A drugs, the maximum sentence is life in prison.
Class B drugs include amphetamines and cannabis, and the maximum punishment for possession is five years in prison and an unlimited fine. The maximum sentence for supplying or producing Class B drugs is 14 years in prison.
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