Across the UK, the conversation surrounding cannabis has evolved dramatically over the past decade. Once relegated to the political and legal fringes, cannabis policy is now a matter of serious national debate. The question is no longer whether cannabis laws should be revisited, but how and when.
For Wales – with its devolved powers, distinct public health needs, and rural economic potential – any shift in UK-wide cannabis legislation could carry particularly significant consequences. As neighbouring European countries embrace legal reform and public opinion continues to shift, Wales may soon find itself at the centre of one of the UK’s most consequential public policy discussions.
The UK’s Current Legal Position
Cannabis remains classified as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Possession can result in up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Despite the 2018 legalisation of cannabis-based products for medicinal use in humans (CBPMs), access through the NHS remains limited and inconsistent. NHS England acknowledges that very few patients are prescribed full-spectrum medical cannabis via the public health system.
Instead, most UK patients turn to private clinics, where treatment can cost hundreds of pounds per month – placing a significant burden on individuals managing chronic conditions such as epilepsy, fibromyalgia, or cancer-related pain.
At the same time, law enforcement disproportionately targets cannabis possession in disadvantaged communities. Release reports that Black people in England and Wales are far more likely to be stopped and searched for drugs than their white counterparts, despite comparable usage rates. This raises questions about fairness, justice, and the societal cost of prohibition.
European Momentum and UK Isolation
While the UK holds firm on prohibition, much of Europe is moving in the opposite direction. Germany began rolling out its cannabis liberalisation strategy in 2024, allowing adults to possess and grow cannabis for personal use under strict regulations. Malta and Luxembourg have also legalised small-scale personal possession and cultivation, while Switzerland is piloting recreational sales in selected cities.
These reforms reflect growing recognition that prohibition has failed to reduce harm, while regulation can improve health outcomes, reduce criminal justice burdens, and generate substantial tax revenue. According to the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, legalisation offers a more effective path to harm reduction and control than blanket bans.
As these models take hold, pressure on UK policymakers to reconsider their stance is likely to grow – and Wales may be among the first to feel the impact.
What Makes Wales Different
Wales cannot unilaterally legalise cannabis – drug laws remain reserved to Westminster – but it does wield considerable control over health, education, agriculture, and policing priorities, all of which shape how cannabis policy is experienced locally.
In recent years, the Welsh Government has demonstrated openness to evidence-led drug reform. A cross-party Senedd committee in 2022 supported further exploration of decriminalisation and harm-reduction strategies. Local health boards and community organisations are already trialling more progressive approaches to substance misuse, while some police forces have adopted diversion schemes to steer low-level drug offenders away from the courts.
These incremental shifts suggest that Wales may be well positioned to lead within the UK should broader cannabis reforms emerge.
Economic Potential in a Legal Market
One of the most compelling arguments for cannabis reform is economic. According to Prohibition Partners, a fully legal cannabis market in the UK could be worth £2.3 billion annually by 2028, supporting over 100,000 jobs across cultivation, retail, research, and logistics.
For rural Welsh communities that have experienced the long-term decline of traditional industries, cannabis cultivation – both medicinal and industrial hemp – presents an opportunity to revitalise local economies and create skilled jobs. Hemp is already legal to grow with a Home Office licence and has applications in sustainable construction, bioplastics, and textile manufacturing.
Companies like Herbies Seeds, which supply cannabis seeds to licensed producers globally, have noted rising interest in British strains adapted to cool, temperate climates – a nod to the unique agronomic potential of Welsh land.
Implications for Public Health and Policing
Legalisation could also improve healthcare outcomes. At present, many Welsh patients struggle to access cannabis-based treatments through the NHS and cannot afford private alternatives. Reform could allow NHS Wales to develop standardised prescription protocols, improving access to therapies with strong anecdotal and clinical support.
On the policing front, the effect could be transformative. In 2021, over 35% of drug possession arrests in Wales involved cannabis, according to StatsWales. Decriminalising or legalising personal use would free up police resources and reduce the burden on the criminal justice system, allowing greater focus on violent crime and community safety.
Moreover, legalisation provides an opportunity to address historical injustices – including disproportionate arrests and long-term criminal records – through restorative justice and equity programmes.
Balancing Benefits With Public Concerns
No policy shift comes without risks. Health professionals have voiced concern about the potential impact of legalisation on adolescent brain development, driving under the influence, and cannabis use disorder. These concerns are valid and should be taken seriously – but evidence from legal markets in Canada and parts of the United States suggests that effective regulation, age limits, and education can mitigate much of the harm.
As of 2022, a YouGov poll found that 52% of UK adults supported legalising recreational cannabis, with even higher levels of support (63%) for legalising medical use. In a policy environment increasingly shaped by public demand, ignoring these figures becomes harder for decision-makers at every level.
Why Wales Should Be Paying Attention
Wales is uniquely placed to help shape what a post-prohibition future could look like in the UK. With control over public health, a strong rural economy, and a government that has shown willingness to challenge the status quo, it has both the tools and the motive to take a leading role in cannabis reform.
From improved access to medical treatments to new job creation and smarter use of police resources, the benefits of well-regulated legalisation could be substantial. But for those benefits to materialise, conversations must begin now – informed by evidence, guided by public health, and centred on communities.
Legalisation is not inevitable, but the direction of travel across Europe and within the UK suggests that change is coming. Whether Wales will be ready to lead – or merely respond – remains to be seen.
