Sadiq Khan Under Fire for Backing Cannabis as Londoners Demand Action on Crime

Sadiq Khan is facing serious backlash after calls to decriminalise cannabis in London, with critics saying he should be focusing on tackling the city’s growing problem with violent crime instead. Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith didn’t mince his words, urging the Mayor to drop what he called “stupid diversions” and get on with the job Londoners actually want done.

“The Mayor of London needs to stop these stupid diversions from his purpose as Mayor and do what Londoners want, get violent crime in London under control,” Sir Iain said.

He’s particularly concerned about the direction of the London Drugs Commission, which is exploring the idea of partially decriminalising cannabis. Sir Iain, who used to be Work and Pensions Secretary, pointed to what he sees as a cautionary tale across the Atlantic. After legalisation in New York, he claims there’s now a “persistent smog of cannabis across Manhattan” and scenes of “crack dealing happening in broad day light in front of our eyes.”

He’s adamant that cannabis is far from harmless. “It’s a harmful and addictive substance, linked to mental health problems from anxiety and depression to psychosis and schizophrenia,” he said. The London Drugs Commission’s own report doesn’t exactly dismiss those concerns either. While it says most users don’t suffer negative consequences, it also notes that “at least 10% risk developing associated difficulties of some kind.” In some cases, the problems can be very serious—like struggling to hold down a job, stay in education or maintain relationships.

One of the more alarming takeaways is that the very services meant to help people with drug issues are already swamped. The report makes it clear that drug treatment services are “overwhelmed” and “in no position to deal with any rise in demand that legalising cannabis may create.”

This warning follows a stark alert from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), the think tank founded by Sir Iain. Last year, the CSJ described the UK’s drug addiction problem as a “crisis of unprecedented proportions.” In 2023 alone, drug poisoning deaths hit 5,448—an 84% jump in the past ten years. Their research also found that two thirds of police officers believe cannabis is already treated as “fully or partially decriminalised in practice.”

Sir Iain says the idea that legalisation would shut down illegal dealers just doesn’t stack up. “Old illegal dealers” are still selling, and what they’re offering is “much stronger stuff,” he warned.

But the Mayor’s office is standing by the Commission’s findings. A spokesperson said: “The London Drugs Commission report makes a compelling, evidenced-based case for the decriminalisation of possession of small quantities of natural cannabis. Sadiq is clear that this is an opportunity to deal with the concerns raised in this study as a public health issue and start a national debate—from the clear need for better education on the risks and uses of cannabis, to the disproportionate impact cannabis-related stop and searches are having on the Black communities in London and across the country.”

The Mayor’s team said they’ll now be studying the report’s recommendations in detail and working with local councils, the Met Police, NHS London and other health and education partners to build “a safer and fairer London for all.”

Meanwhile, a Home Office spokesperson shut down any hopes of national reform, saying, “The government has no intention of reclassifying cannabis from a Class B substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act.” They added that efforts would continue to reduce drug use, support treatment, and make communities safer.