ELIZABETH II

Cannabis Act 2021

2021 CHAPTER 26

An act to provide for the legal sale, growth, and consumption of cannabis, providing the vendor or grower has a valid Cannabis Licence, or that the grower is growing cannabis for valid medical purposes under recommendation from a medical doctor; and for connected purposes.
Bill ID LB026
Author(s) The Most Honourable Dame Sir Xanthe Orpheus Florence GCTL KOBC MR, 1st Marquess of Florence
Amended by N/A
First reading 2021 August 13
Royal assent 2021 October 3
Commencement 2022 April 20
Affected legislation N/A

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Definitions

In this Act, ‘cannabis’ refers to any part of a plant in the genus Cannabis or any substance that is identical to any phytocannabinoid produced by or found in such a plant, regardless of how the substance was obtained.

2 Amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

In Schedule 2, Part II of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the items ‘Cannabinol’, ‘Cannabinol derivatives’, and ‘Cannabis and cannabis resin’ are struck out.

3 Licensing

  1. Any person or business wishing to grow or sell cannabis must obtain a Cannabis Licence from the Secretary of State, subject to subsection (2).
  2. A person does not need to obtain a Cannabis Licence to privately grow no more than four cannabis plants for private medical purposes under recommendation from a medical doctor.
  3. A person commits an offence if she—
    1. Sells more than 50 grammes of cannabis to a private individual for personal use,
    2. Grows cannabis without a Cannabis Licence, subject to subsection (2), or
    3. Sells cannabis without a Cannabis Licence.
  4. A person guilty of comitting an offence under this section is liable—
    1. On summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six (6) months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both; or
    2. On conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding four (4) years.

4 Age requirements

  1. A person committs an offence if she sells cannabis to an individual under the age of 18.
  2. A person guilty of comitting an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

5 Short title, commencement, and extent

  1. This Act may be referred to as the Cannabis Act 2021.
  2. This Act comes into force on 20 April 2022.
  3. This Act extends to the entire United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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