UK is largest legal cannabis producer in world, says UN

BRITAIN is the largest exporter of legal cannabis in the world despite it being heavily restricted in this country, a UN report has found.

Findings by the UN’S International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) stated that the UK produced 95 tons of legal cannabis in 2016 – more than double the 2015 total of 42 tons.

The UK’S production accounts for 44.9 per cent of the world total. The report puts Canada in second place with 80.7 tons produced.

Some 2.1 tons was exported from the UK, making it responsible for 67.7 per cent of the world total, followed by Holland (16.4 per cent).

A significant part of the UK’S legal cannabis production goes toward a medicine called Sativex, used to treat multiple sclerosis.

Produced by GW Pharmaceuticals, it is available on prescription, but only via the NHS in Wales.

Medical cannabis products licensed in other countries remain illegal in the UK, even when prescribed by a doctor who has determined they are needed by a UK patient.

Steve Rolles, Transform’s senior policy analyst, said: “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.”