It's illegal to own, grow, distribute or sell cannabis in the UK. In the UK, creating a cannabis club is legal, but growing and distributing cannabis is not. However, the UK has witnessed a significant increase in the creation of cannabis social clubs over the past 12 months. The current prescription system for medical cannabis in the UK presents both an opportunity and a threat.
Companies that have a long-term vision16 of growing medical cannabis in the United Kingdom for export within the current regulatory framework could continue to reinforce the country's strong export performance. Cannabis social clubs are emerging across Europe, and are the next logical step towards a safe and regulated cannabis market. In 1971, the Drug Abuse Act was enacted and cannabis was classified as a class B drug until the 2000s, when there was a temporary change in the government's view of cannabis, in response to the population's changing perception of marijuana. Cannabis has been restricted in the UK since 1928, but its recreational use was limited in the 1960s and became completely illegal in 1971. Cannabis is a class B drug along with ketamine and codeine, for example, so if the police discover small amounts of cannabis in your possession, they will most likely impose a fine of around 90 British pounds and, if you are under 18, they have the right to inform your parents or guardians. Later, Fisher told PoliticsJoe that the club was primarily aimed at consumers of medical cannabis and that they “know that people are going to use cannabis no matter what.” However, a regulatory change that would make it easier and more affordable to prescribe medical cannabis, with or without a license, would offer domestic companies the opportunity to grow and sell products in the UK market.
As in other jurisdictions, the United Kingdom is expected to eventually change its policy on cannabis, facilitating access for medicinal purposes and decriminalizing (or potentially legalizing) recreational possession and consumption. Cannabis is not legal and still maintains its class B status, so possession of it can lead to you spending up to five years in prison, so you may have thought that a cannabis club couldn't continue to work. Medical cannabis products are only imported into the UK once a prescription has been issued to a patient, causing delays and making the prescription more expensive. Teesside Cannabis Club members receive a card that they can show to the police to let officers know they are using medical cannabis.
