The UK is the world’s largest producer and exporter of legal cannabis for medical and scientific use, according to a new report from a UN body.
The UK produced 95 tonnes of legal cannabis in 2016, more than double the total of the previous year, reveals the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board. This accounted for 44.9% of the world total.
The nearest competitor is Canada, with 80.7 tonnes.
Some 2.1 tonnes was exported from the UK, making it responsible for 67.7% of the world total, followed by the Netherlands (16.4%).
A drug policy reform lobby group has criticised the UK government, saying they have “consistently refused to allow medical cannabis in the UK on the basis that it has ‘no therapeutic value'”.