Is big business coming for cannabis?
How the UK is gearing up for legalisation.
Beyond Today · BBC Radio 4
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (open.live.bbc.co.uk) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
Once upon a time the concept of legalising recreational cannabis was something stoners at house parties dreamt about, but in the past few years the conversation around cannabis has changed.
BBC Newsbeat journalist Jim Connolly travelled with Labour's David Lammy, Conservative MP Jonathan Djanogly and Liberal Democrat Sir Norman Lamb on a fact-finding trip to Canada. In 2018 Canada became the first G7 country to allow recreational use of the drug. The MPs are now convinced the UK will fully legalise cannabis use within five to ten years.
Currently cannabis is designated as a Class B drug in the UK and anyone caught with it could face up to five years in prison.
Jim spoke to Matthew about what, and who, is driving the push for legalisation in the UK.
You can watch Jim’s Newsbeat documentary here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p07hlnh7/newsbeat-documentaries-legalising-weed-canadas-story.
Producers: Lucy Hancock, Duncan Barber and Alva White. Mixed by Nicolas Raufast. Editor: Philly Beaumont.