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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/03/the-risk-of-underestimating-the-uk-cannabis-market
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| The risk of underestimating the UK cannabis market | The risk of underestimating the UK cannabis market |
| (4 months later) | |
| The Institute of Economic Affairs has seriously underestimated the size of the UK cannabis market in their paper on tax revenues in a regulated market (Legalising cannabis could be ‘win-win-win’ for UK, says thinktank, 29 June). | The Institute of Economic Affairs has seriously underestimated the size of the UK cannabis market in their paper on tax revenues in a regulated market (Legalising cannabis could be ‘win-win-win’ for UK, says thinktank, 29 June). |
| Data from our 30,000 survey respondents shows average annual usage to be 423g rather than the report’s 82.5g, which would put the quantity used by 3 million citizens at 1,270 tonnes rather than the IEA’s 255 tonnes. This would value the UK market at close to £10bn. | Data from our 30,000 survey respondents shows average annual usage to be 423g rather than the report’s 82.5g, which would put the quantity used by 3 million citizens at 1,270 tonnes rather than the IEA’s 255 tonnes. This would value the UK market at close to £10bn. |
| This underestimation carries the risk that when post-regulation sales reach our estimates it will be condemned as a big increase in usage rather than recognised as unveiling the true level. | This underestimation carries the risk that when post-regulation sales reach our estimates it will be condemned as a big increase in usage rather than recognised as unveiling the true level. |
| The evidence from abroad suggests increases in post-legalisation usage tend to occur among older age groups, remaining stable or even declining among teenagers and young adults.Matthew J AthaDirector, Independent Drug Monitoring Unit; author of Taxing The UK Cannabis Market (2011) | The evidence from abroad suggests increases in post-legalisation usage tend to occur among older age groups, remaining stable or even declining among teenagers and young adults.Matthew J AthaDirector, Independent Drug Monitoring Unit; author of Taxing The UK Cannabis Market (2011) |
| • John Keane raises the issue of the morality of using drugs, considering the horrors of the trade (Drug users, take responsibility for the harm that you cause, Letters, 28 June). | • John Keane raises the issue of the morality of using drugs, considering the horrors of the trade (Drug users, take responsibility for the harm that you cause, Letters, 28 June). |
| I assume he has never owned, for example, an Apple product. And there’s no way an ethical consumer like him drives a car or has more than two children. I would also assume therefore that he doesn’t drink coffee or alcohol or, if he does, he makes sure his choice of product is – in every way – ethically sound. | I assume he has never owned, for example, an Apple product. And there’s no way an ethical consumer like him drives a car or has more than two children. I would also assume therefore that he doesn’t drink coffee or alcohol or, if he does, he makes sure his choice of product is – in every way – ethically sound. |
| The point should be obvious, that focusing on the individual consumer is not an effective strategy when faced by oppression and injustice that is systemic – this is a problem with international capitalism generally and not just the drugs trade. | The point should be obvious, that focusing on the individual consumer is not an effective strategy when faced by oppression and injustice that is systemic – this is a problem with international capitalism generally and not just the drugs trade. |
| Mr Keane is on the right track but doesn’t cast his net wide enough. | Mr Keane is on the right track but doesn’t cast his net wide enough. |
| Do I have a solution? Perhaps not, but ethical capitalism is an illusion and Keane should be wary of this line of thinking.Josh KerrGuildford, Surrey | Do I have a solution? Perhaps not, but ethical capitalism is an illusion and Keane should be wary of this line of thinking.Josh KerrGuildford, Surrey |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| Cannabis | Cannabis |
| Drugs | Drugs |
| Drugs policy | Drugs policy |
| Drugs trade | Drugs trade |
| letters | letters |
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