Durham police chief calls for legalisation of cannabis in UK

Mike Barton says ban on drug is damaging public safety and market needs to be regulated
The Guardian (UK)
Sunday, June 24, 2018

Mike BartonA chief constable has called for the ban on cannabis to be scrapped, arguing that it damages public safety, puts users in more danger, and gives millions of pounds to organised criminals. Mike Barton, who leads the Durham police force, said people growing a couple of plants for personal use would not be subject to raids in his jurisdiction. Durham police are rated as outstanding in their effectiveness by the official police inspectorate. His comments came after the former Conservative party leader William Hague last week said the war on cannabis had failed and the class-B drug should be legalised.