London Mayor Sadiq Khan has backed calls for cannabis to be decriminalised and said current laws around the drug ‘cannot be justified’.

Sir Sadiq said a report published today – which he commissioned – provided ‘a compelling case’ for decriminalisation and urged the Government to consider the move.

The London Drugs Commission (LDC), which was founded by the Labour Mayor in 2022 and is chaired by Lord Charlie Falconer, found current laws on cannabis were ‘disproportionate’.

The report also says cannabis policing ‘focuses on particular ethnic communities’ which is causing tensions between police and those groups.

The commission said it would not call for a full decriminalisation of the drug but that the use of ‘natural’ cannabis should be moved from the Misuse of Drugs Act to the Psychoactive Substances Act.

This would effectively legalise possession of small quantities for personal use while continuing to prohibit importing, manufacturing or distributing the drug.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Sir Sadiq was gambling with making London a ‘crime-ridden ghetto’ by endorsing the move.

He said: ‘Possession of cannabis should not be decriminalised like this. We have seen some US and Canadian cities devastated by soft policies on addictive and harmful drugs – now Sadiq Khan wants to send London the same way.

‘Cannabis is illegal for a reason. Cannabis is associated with anti-social behaviour and heavy use can lead to serious psychosis and severed mental health problems.

‘US and Canadian cities which tried this approach have ended up as crime-ridden ghettos with stupefied addicts on the streets and law-abiding citizens frightened to go there.

‘Sadiq Khan is more interested in politically correct posturing for the benefit of his left-wing friends than he is making London a safe and nice place.

‘I completely oppose these plans. But with a weak Labour Government in power, there’s no telling how they will react. We must stop soft Sadiq.’

The Mayor, who was first elected in 2016, said the report should be considered by those in Downing Street.

He added: ‘The [LDC] report makes a compelling, evidenced-based case for the decriminalisation of possession of small quantities of natural cannabis which the Government should consider.

‘It says that the current sentencing for those caught in possession of natural cannabis cannot be justified given its relative harm and people’s experience of the justice system.

‘We must recognise that better education, improved healthcare and more effective, equitable policing of cannabis use are long overdue.’

Under current laws, cannabis is a Class B drug and those found in possession face a fine or imprisonment.

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘We will continue to work with partners across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use, ensure more people receive timely treatment and support, and make our streets and communities safer.

‘The government has no intention of reclassifying cannabis from a Class B substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act.’