Cannabis War, Policing minister Kit Malthouse tells Sadiq Khan to end legalization Battle

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse has slammed London mayor Sadiq Khan for his plans to legalise cannabis.

Mr Malthouse said the Mayor of London’s review into cannabis legislation and his photoshoot at a Californian weed farm was ‘baffling’ – linking it with knife crime in the capital.

Mr Khan used a trip to America to renew his calls for cannabis to be legalised in the UK – stating his intention to further decriminalise the Class B drug.

‘Knife crime takes too many lives – frequently young children – and leaves a trail of broken hearts behind,’ Mr Malthouse wrote in the Sun.

‘I continue to press the police to be more tenacious in their fight against knife crime.’

‘As a result, we’re giving them more authority and resources to track down people who have previously carried.’

‘However, the inherent link between this violence and narcotics cannot be overlooked.’

‘Drugs are linked to nearly half of all killings in some way.

‘So it’s perplexing to me that the Mayor of London believed it was right to conduct a photoshoot in a cannabis field in Los Angeles just last week to reiterate his support for the legalization of this gateway substance.’

‘I profoundly wish he would focus on knife crime and violence taking place in the capital instead.’

The intervention came as Malthouse is preparing to launch Operation Sceptre an initiative to dedicate thousands of officers from all forces to tackling knife crime.

He added: ‘Having met the families of some of those killed, I know these victims are not just statistics – they are people’s beloved daughters and sons, and they need someone to feel responsible.

‘There are simply no positives to carrying a knife and I have made promises to the families of victims that I will do everything in my power to drive down this senseless violence.

‘From putting more cops on the streets – 13,500 already and 20,000 by next year – to funding more programmes to direct those at risk away from crime.

‘Since this government was elected in 2019, a staggering 50,000 knives and offensive weapons have been removed from our streets through stop and search, surrender initiatives and other police action’.

Mr Khan was so impressed with the cannabis outlet and production line he announced the formation of a new group to look at decriminalising the drug in Britain.

But the photoshoot – which featured him looking serious surrounded by the plants – has prompted utter disbelief in some quarters.

Home Secretary Priti Patel, who has vowed to crackdown on middle-class drug users, was no plan of the Mayor’s drive.