A new cannabis political party has been launched in the UK in the hope to push reform of laws prohibiting sales and possession of the class B substance.

Cista, which stands for Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol, wants to legalise weed as it believes that the so-called “war on drugs” has only benefited criminals by driving production and distribution underground.

First legal cannabis sales in Washington Show all 10 1 /10 First legal cannabis sales in Washington First legal cannabis sales in Washington Washington's cannabis stores Kevin Nelson, of Bellingham, Wash., holds a sign that reads "Drug War Ends Here," outside Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash. on the first day of legal pot sales in the state. Nelson says he is a long-time activist opposing drug laws, particularly those targeting marijuana users, and he he feels the legalization of marijuana will lead to less crowded jails and be less of a burden on the court system. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren First legal cannabis sales in Washington Washington's cannabis stores A pamphlet titled "Marijuana Use in Washington State," is displayed at the Cannabis City recreational marijuana shop in Seattle. The store will be the first and only store in Seattle to initially sell recreational marijuana when legal sales begin on Tuesday, 8 July, 2014. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren First legal cannabis sales in Washington Washington's cannabis stores Customers shop for marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis, a retail marijuana store. Top Shelf Cannabis was the first retail marijuana store to open today in Washington state, nearly a year and a half after the state's voters chose to legalize marijuana. David Ryder/Getty Images First legal cannabis sales in Washington Washington's cannabis stores Cale Holdsworth, in town from Kansas to visit family, celebrates after purchasing two grams of marijuana strain "OG's Pearl" for $26.50 at Top Shelf Cannabis, a retail marijuana store David Ryder/Getty Images First legal cannabis sales in Washington Washington's cannabis stores A sign noting the Washington state law that prohibits opening packages that contain marijuana or marijuana-infused products in public rests on a glass case displaying bongs for sale at the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City AP Photo/Ted S. Warren First legal cannabis sales in Washington Washington's cannabis stores Brian Travino, a student at Western Washington University wears a Washington state flag, as he waits with other customers to purchase recreational marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis in Bellingham, Wash., in the first half-hour of legal sales in the state. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren First legal cannabis sales in Washington Washington's cannabis stores Amber McGowan, left, and Krystal Klacsan, right, work at the recreational marijuana store Cannabis City in Seattle to apply a state-mandated frosted film to the front of a display case that will contain pot varieties when legal sales begin on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. The store will be the first and only store in Seattle to initially sell recreational marijuana on Tuesday. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren First legal cannabis sales in Washington Washington's cannabis stores A customer, who declined to give his name, sniffs a strain of recreational marijuana at Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash., during the first half-hour of legal sales in the states. Customers cannot be given samples, but are allowed to use "sniff jars" to help make their purchasing decisions. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren First legal cannabis sales in Washington Washington's cannabis stores Julian Rodriguez, right, of Everson, Wash., holds his two-gram packet of recreational marijuana outside Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash., on the first day of legal sales. At left is Tom Beckley, the owner of the store. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren First legal cannabis sales in Washington Washington's cannabis stores The price of two grams of a strain of marijuana named "Sweet Lafayette," is displayed at Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash., on the first day of legal sales of recreational marijuana in the state AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

The legalisation of medicinal-use cannabis in the US of state Colorado last year has become a successful model in collecting revenue through authorised sales with $40 million raised in taxes so far, the party says.

Cannabis is also legal in the US states of Alaska, Oregon and Washington.

Around £900 million could be raised from sales of legalised, regulated and taxed cannabis and could cut the national deficit by £1.25 billion, the draft manifesto for Cista claims.

Cannabis products sold in a dispensary in Denver, Colorado (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

The party, which was launched this week, states: “Decades of criminalising use of cannabis have failed on every front. Across the world, countries are properly redrafting laws relating to cannabis use with benefits for the economy, public health and levels of crime.

“Cista exists to replicate this success. Our candidates during the 2015 Elections will be campaigning for a Royal Commission to review Britain’s drug laws.”

The overall score of harm from the use of cannabis is significantly lower than that of alcohol, particularly in physical injuries and economic costs, graphs collated by the party show.

Deaths from drinking are illustrated for alcohol, however none are recorded for cannabis in the graphs.

The claims echo those of former Home Office minister Norman Baker, who said in November that alcohol poses a greater risk than cannabis to the public’s health and safety.