Transform Drug Policy Foundation Launches Campaign for Cannabis Legalization in the UK

Transform Drug Policy Foundation, a registered non-profit charity in the United Kingdom focused on establishing a safer system for drug regulation, announced on Thursday that it is launching new efforts to legalize marijuana. The organization aims to legalize and regulate recreational cannabis through a crowd-funded campaign.

Fundraising Efforts

In a post on X, the non-profit launched a crowd-funder to support their campaign. Within just one day, they collected 3% or £1,650 ($2,128) of their £50,000 target, supported by 28 contributors. The fundraising effort is set to close on August 30, 2024.

Global Expertise and Objectives

Transform Drug Policy Foundation has a history of advising governments in Canada, Germany, Malta, Luxembourg, Uruguay, and Mexico. The foundation’s goals for cannabis reform include protecting young people, prioritizing health and social justice, and reducing crime.

As an independent charity that does not receive government funding, Transform relies on financial support to launch cannabis legalization campaigns. The funds will be used to work with key experts and impacted communities, produce new analyses on the economic opportunities of a regulated cannabis market, and ensure the campaign gains the attention of the new Labour government and the wider public.

Strategic Actions

The campaign will also:

• Analyze global cannabis reforms to learn lessons for the UK.
• Build cross-party support in Parliament, promoting and informing debates in both houses, all-party groups, and select committees.
• Develop a Private Members Bill to serve as a rallying point for reform in Westminster.

Increasing Medical Marijuana Patients

The push for cannabis legalization coincides with a significant increase in patients seeking medical marijuana for chronic pain and mental health conditions. One medical marijuana clinic in Westminster, Mamedica, reported a tenfold increase in patient numbers in 2023, from 250 to 2,750.

Transitioning Patients

CEO Jon Robson noted that many patients are transitioning from the illicit market or seeking alternatives to insufficient NHS treatments. While it is possible to access medical marijuana through the NHS, it is rare and limited to severe cases of epilepsy, chemotherapy-induced nausea, or certain types of muscle stiffness associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Consequently, many families struggle to afford life-saving medicine for their children.

Medical Cannabis Usage and Market Growth

The majority of Mamedica’s patients use medical marijuana for psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression, while 40% use it to treat chronic pain. Prohibition Partners, a data, media, and tech company in the legal cannabis industry, revealed earlier this year that the medical marijuana market is experiencing higher than expected sales due to unusually high consumption rates per patient.

Market Projections

By the end of 2024, it is projected that 62,960 patients in the UK will be using medical marijuana, generating 240 million euros ($258.8 million) in sales. This equates to an average annual consumption of 3,811 euros per patient, or 318 euros per month.

In comparison, Germany, with the largest medical cannabis market and patient population in Europe, sees an average annual consumption of 1,563 euros per patient, or 130 euros per month. Germany recently made a significant breakthrough with its new cannabis law regulating medical marijuana akin to ibuprofen.

Increase in Medical Cannabis Imports

A 2023 report also indicated that the import volume of medical cannabis in the UK has tripled, further highlighting the growing demand and potential impact of legal reforms.

The Transform Drug Policy Foundation’s campaign for cannabis legalization in the UK seeks to address these growing needs, leveraging both public support and international expertise to drive meaningful reform.