DECRIMINALISING cannabis will improve health, reduce crime and raise £1bn in taxes, according to a County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner candidate.

Liberal Democrat Craig Martin believes the war on drugs is not working, saying it is “absurd” to expect stretched police forces to pursue cannabis users.

Craig Martin

In supporting calls for a regulated cannabis market, Mr Martin said 40,000 people were believed to have used the drug last year in County Durham and Darlington alone.

He believes decriminalising users and regulating the cannabis market would raise £1bn in taxes that could be invested in the NHS.

Mr Martin said: “That’s £1bn taken out of organised crime, making County Durham and Darlington safer.

“This money can then be invested in our stretched NHS and mental health services to provide the support users aren’t getting but need.”

He added: “Police officers I’ve spoken to are frustrated wasting time and resources processing cannabis users as criminals.

“These people shouldn’t be considered criminals when they’re taking a drug arguably less harmful than alcohol and less likely to provoke fights on weekends.

“Requiring police to pursue users is as absurd as suggesting the 1,100 Durham officers could arrest everyone that attends a Sunderland Premier League game.

“The number of users are unmanageable for a force that has had one of the largest reductions of police numbers in the country.”

His comments were strongly opposed by the Conservative candidate for the upcoming PCC elections, Peter Cuthbertson.

Mr Cuthbertson called his proposals well-intentioned but irresponsible, adding: “I am on the side of parents who worry about their children condemning themselves to psychiatric wings or to pointless, wasted lives relieved by regular highs.

“These parents deserve support from authority.

“It is a myth that large amounts of police time is spent going after cannabis users.”

Mr Martin’s comments were welcomed by prominent cannabis activist John Holliday of the Teesside Cannabis Club.

Mr Holliday said: “I support everything the party are saying but it may be too little, too late.

“They should have been stronger when they were in a position to make change.

“Prohibition doesn’t work and criminalisation affects housing, employment and health care.

“In places where cannabis has been decriminalised, it is having a positive effect on the economy, crime rates and employment.

“It’s proving that cannabis doesn’t act as a gateway drug and there’s no sign of the hell the Tories think will break loose if it’s legalised here.”