London mayor Sadiq Khan ‘considering cannabis decriminalisation’

The policy is expected to be included in the incumbent Labour mayor’s manifesto which is due to be published on 6 April.

A source close to the mayor told The Guardian: “It will be for the commission to look at the evidence in the round, but nothing is off the table in the context of what is best for public health and keeping Londoners safe.”

Opinion polls have consistently indicated that Khan – who succeeded Boris Johnson in the role in 2016 – is on course to be re-elected for a second term.

Under London’s unique devolution set up, the mayor oversees policing and crime policy for the city and its police force, theoretically given Khan the power to overhaul how use of the drug is policed.

However, the mayor does not have power to introduced new laws, meaning a showdown with Downing Street looms over the policy.

A Survation survey flagged by the mayor’s office to The Guardian from July 2019 found that 63 percent of London residents backed legalisation and regulation of cannabis, well above the 47 percent rate across the UK as a whole.