How Will the Brexit Affect Cannabis Consumers in the UK?

The UK's departure from the European Union has sparked concerns both inside and outside British borders. Cannabis users have also been apprehensive, as the Brexit directly affects them, along with the rest of the population.

While it is true that the European Union does not dictate countries marijuana-related policies, it has tended to promote more tolerant attitudes and the non-penalisation of consumption. Therefore, one of the measure’s first consequences is that, by leaving the EU, consumers will be dissociated from a transnational movement for the legalisation of cannabis that is already quite well developed. The British will have to return to the starting line, as it were, and start demanding their rights.

Considering that to date none of the country's major political parties has come out in support of the legalisation of marijuana, activists and consumers will now really have their work cut out for them to achieve decriminalisation. It will probably be a long time until they are able to muster enough support for their demands to reach the legislative sphere.

Another consequence of the Brexit is that UK does not form part of the Schengen ​​free trade zone, such that the transport of people and substances will be rendered a lot more complicated. Therefore, the new situation strongly affects marijuana consumers, both medical and recreational.

In terms of medical cannabis, the Brexit means, firstly, that hundreds of patients who need marijuana to treat their illnesses will no longer be able travel with it throughout the Union. At the international level, the plant is still considered a Category-1 substance, so it cannot be transported from one State to another. In contrast, within the framework of the European Union, patients do have the ability to transport prescribed medicines.

It also affects medical tourism. Within the Union, any patient who cannot obtain his medication in his country can travel to another area that does offer a solution to his problem, and then transport it to his place of residence. The Brexit means that British patients will be denied the right to turn to a State that does not penalise the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes.

Meanwhile, those who use marijuana recreationally will also be adversely affected by the exit, as they lose the right to move to countries where consumption is more accepted than in the UK. In addition, any Briton who wishes to travel abroad, but has any sort of cannabis-related conviction, will be affected.

Finally, the cannabis companies that are emerging in the UK, and its seed banks, will also suffer from the Brexit. All of them depend directly on sales to other EU countries, which will now most likely be taxed differently, making them much less competitive.

Although exactly how the UK will proceed to leave the European Union is still unclear, what is certain is that it will have a major impact on the daily life of both the British and other Europeans. Therefore, cannabis users will have to adapt to the new framework and continue to struggle, as they have done to date, to obtain full recognition of their rights.