The United Kingdom seems to be hypocritical with respect to its marijuana policy. The same government that claims cannabis has no medicinal function is now the leading medical marijuana exporter on the planet. This discrepancy has drug reform groups searching for answers. They are trying to understand why this country bans cannabis while exporting the most in the world.
UK Leads the World in Cannabis Export
Last year, the United Kingdom produced 95 tons of legal cannabis, according to a report from the United Nations’ International Narcotics Control Board.
Incidentally, the data shows that the United Kingdom dominated in cannabis exports—accounting for nearly 45 percent of the action. Its closest competitor is Canada. That country is responsible for 81 tons of cannabis.
In addition, the report shows two tons of cannabis was exported from the United Kingdom. That amounts to 68 percent of the world total. Coming in at second place was the Netherlands, with 16.4 percent.
Cannabis Advocates Are Miffed
Cannabis advocates have criticized the government of the United Kingdom for the double standard. They argue it has “consistently refused to allow medical cannabis” on the “basis that it has ‘no therapeutic value'”. They are especially incensed that this is going on when children like Alfie Dingley are denied life-saving cannabis medication in their home country.
“It is scandalous and untenable for the UK government to maintain that cannabis has no medical uses, at the same time as licensing the world’s biggest government-approved medical cannabis production and export market,” said Steve Rolles, senior political analyst for Transform.
“Countries with proper access to medical cannabis do not have this problem,” he added.
Big Pharma Is to Blame
A large part of the UK’s cannabis production goes to supply GW Pharmaceuticals. The company has been working for years to bring cannabis-based medicine to the U.S. market.
It already produces cannabis drugs for other countries. It is available by prescription.
The word on the street is that GW Pharma will soon market its epilepsy drug Epidiolex to patients in America.
In fact, the FDA recently gave the drug the green light.
Final Hit: This Country Bans Cannabis While Exporting The Most In The World
An estimated 1 million people in the United Kingdom are buying medical marijuana from the black market. This does not sit well with Rolles.
He finds the government’s actions “profoundly unethical.”
Furthermore, he says preventing patients from cannabis medicine is a “violation of the fundamental right to health.”
“The government must relax restrictions that grant a monopoly for a single product to a single company. It must allow access to cannabis-based medicines that serve patients need—what they don’t need is the government’s cruel and misguided war on people who use drugs,” he said.
