On Monday 12 October, at 4.30pm, MPs will debate the legalisation of cannabis in Westminster Hall. The debate results from an e-petition that garnered more than 220,000 signatures. Below is a briefing for MPs, to support the call for the government to take control of the cannabis trade by legalising and regulating its production and supply.

International context

Police obtained a search warrant for a house in Fartown after smelling cannabis from outside the property and discovered two rooms being used for growing and drying the illegal plants.

Robert Galley, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday police called at the house in Abbey Road on May 7 last year and got no answer when they knocked on the back door.

There was a “strong smell of cannabis” and there appeared to be fans leading out of rooms upstairs.

After obtaining a search warrant officers returned on May 13 and found the occupier, Steven Netherwood, present in the living room.

Today, Friday 9th October, in advance of Monday’s cannabis debate in Parliament, I met with Oliver Letwin, the Cabinet Office minister with responsibility for the implementation of government policy.

A WOMAN left in agony by the collapse of her immune system is calling for the legalisation of cannabis to end her suffering.

Bernadette McCready, 39, underwent a total hysterectomy four years ago after suffering uncontrollable rages, crippling abdominal pain and violent mood swings caused by a condition called premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

However, the operation sparked a reaction from her immune system, causing psoriasis all over her body and in her joints, as well as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and liver disease.

Now, as MPs prepare to debate legalising cannabis after more than 200,000 people signed a petition, Ms McCready is appealing to be allowed cannabis on prescription.

BY THE time police were called to look at “a few cannabis plants” in a wasteland in south-west London, the site played host to a forest five feet high and the area of a football pitch. Officers cordoned it off on September 25th, with what sounded almost like a touch of regret for the gardeners. “All their time, trouble and gardening skills”, said Sarah Henderson, a police constable, “will go unrewarded.”

It takes a lot for marijuana growers to attract police attention these days. In July four forces—Derbyshire, Dorset, Durham and Surrey—declared that they would henceforth respond only to tip-offs and “blatant” weed use. Many other forces have also scaled things down, albeit quietly, according to Steve Rolles of Transform, a drug-policy think-tank.

A horse dealer who tried to smuggle 25kg (55lb) of cannabis into Belfast has been given a confiscation order of £80,000.

Drugs with a street value of £750,000 were found in Laurence McAllister's horse box at Stranraer in April 2012.

McAllister, 59, from Kells, County Antrim, was heading back to Northern Ireland when officers at the Cairnryan ferry port discovered the haul.

He was jailed for five years and six months in October 2012.

The cannabis resin was found in four hessian sacks which were stored in the vehicle alongside two horses.

Two men have been jailed for more than two years for running a cannabis farm at a home in Rugby.

Officers raided the property in Howkins Road, Brownsover, earlier this year and discovered a “sophisticated set-up” along with dried skunk-type cannabis with a potential street value of between £2,940 and £3,360.

Police also seized over £1,500 in cash from the house.

Grzegorz Klocek, 25, and Krzysztof Stanczyk, 33, were arrested and later charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis and production of cannabis.

As MPs in the UK prepare to debate cannabis legalisation, Transform's new report on Colorado, which became the first jurisdiction in the world to legalise cannabis in 2012, demonstrates the benefits of ending the criminalisation of users and putting government in control of the trade.

Despite dire predictions, early evidence suggests that legalisation in Colorado has had the following positive outcomes:

The question of legalising cannabis is due to be debated in the House of Commons, an open letter has been sent to all Berkshire MPs asking them to attend the debate and seriously consider the issue

An open letter asking for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis has been sent to all Berkshire MPs.

Jon Liebling, a medical cannabis patient and political director of the United Patients Alliance, has written the letter telling Berkshire MPs it is time to stop criminalising medical cannabis patients.

Mr Liebling's letter calls on all local MPs to attend the debate and support the views of an estimated one million medical cannabis users.