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Written question asked by Neil Coyle (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 February 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 February 2024. It was answered by Chris Philp (Conservative) on Thursday, 22 February 2024 on behalf of the Home Office.

Cannabis: Crimes of Violence

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has commissioned research to assess potential links between cannabis misuse and violent crime.

Answer

The Home Office commissioned Dame Carol Black in 2019 to undertake a 2-part independent review of drugs, which informed the government’s 10 year Drug Strategy. The review included information on different illegal drugs, including cannabis markets and links to exploitation and violence. The evidence pack is published at: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882953/Review_of_Drugs_Evidence_Pack.pdf.

In this review it was found that the available data indicates that cannabis markets, while associated with violence, are less closely linked to violence than the markets for heroin/crack and powder cocaine.

Further analysis undertaken by the Home Office was conducted on the risk factors for behaviours related to serious violence, which is published here and includes an assessment of drug use as a risk factor:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/819840/analysis-of-indicators-of-serious-violence-horr110.pdf

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
13593
Session
2023-24
Subjects
Crimes of violence Cannabis Misuse Research
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk