# Will pot dispensaries in the U.K. eventually happen? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071 "2017-01-24T21:28:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/1 "2017-01-24T21:28:59Z")
I’ve been enjoying access to pot dispensaries here in B.C. for the past couple years. I’m surprised the U.K. hasn’t kept pace, but at least there’s signs… > **[Medical Marijuana](https://medicalmarijuana.co.uk/)** > > Discussion, Research and Compassion To Brits: what’s the word in the street? Is there genuine interest there? Curious what that situation’s like in other European countries. (well, Holland we already know.) Are there any high-profile dingleberries over there (like the US’s Jeff Sessions and Canada’s Kellie Lietch) who’ve been moronically platforming against it? ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/2 "2017-01-24T22:12:44Z")
No ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/3 "2017-01-24T22:19:20Z")
> [@Eddie The Horrible](#): > > To Brits: what’s the word in the street? Is there genuine interest there? Possession is still illegal, but the cops really don’t care very much about personal use (as long as you don’t give them a reason to care, obviously) For a few years in the 2000s cannabis was moved from being a Class B substance (alongside amphetamines and benzos) down to Class C (anabolic steroids, khat), but it got bumped back up again for political reasons. Class A is heroin, cocaine, crystal meth and somewhat ridiculously MDMA. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/4 "2017-01-24T22:32:28Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > No Why not? > [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Class A is heroin, cocaine, crystal meth **and somewhat ridiculously MDMA**. My bold - yeah, doesn’t deserve to be there. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/5 "2017-01-24T23:21:29Z")
Since the OP is seeking opinions, let’s move this to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/6 "2017-01-25T12:43:11Z")
It will not happen because our establishment will not allow it, you can debate the merits of argument all you like. I am sure that every point that supports the current status of cannabis can be argued against, its not me that makes the decisions. You are not going to change the outlook of the policymakers. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/7 "2017-01-25T12:57:41Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > It will not happen because our establishment will not allow it, you can debate the merits of argument all you like. Sadly true. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/8 "2017-01-25T13:22:12Z")
Spain, the only thing that’s illegal is selling it. It’s legal to grow (I know cops who say they prefer potheads who grow their own, as they’re less likely to adulterate it with crap and more likely to have consistant quality); it’s legal to own; it’s legal to transport; it’s legal to share. So how do you get around the selling ban? The official way is through “smoker’s clubs”; the ones I’ve heard of have policies along the lines of “a member has to be induced by two others” but nobody gives a shit if they just met those two others at the door. That’s something I’ve only heard of in big cities, though: in a rural area you just find someone who grows it. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/9 "2017-01-25T15:32:02Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > It will not happen because our establishment will not allow it, you can debate the merits of argument all you like. > > I am sure that every point that supports the current status of cannabis can be argued against, its not me that makes the decisions. > > You are not going to change the outlook of the policymakers. The establishment is only the establishment until it isn’t. In the US within a decade we went from almost every state in the union, including liberal California, and the federal government having a ban on gay marriage and serious talk of a constitutional amendment reflecting such to it being legal everywhere and prosecuting bakers who didn’t want to make a cake for a gay marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/10 "2017-01-25T16:21:06Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > …you can debate the merits of argument all you like. heh heh well if you insist, then: > [@casdave](#): > > **I am sure** that every point that supports the current status of cannabis can be argued against, its not me that makes the decisions. Bolding mine - that probably could’ve used bucketloads more substantiating. oh yeah? Other than the obvious inhalation of it (meaning - don’t mention it), name _one_ point supporting the use of cannabis that can be legitimately argued against. With cites. (There’s a lot of butthead sources out there on this subject, **so please select prudently**.) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/11 "2017-01-25T17:29:03Z")
I think you mistake my response for giving the slightest shit about the legalisation of cannabis - on either side of the debate. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/12 "2017-01-25T17:46:02Z")
Not while the current bunch of paternalist politicians are in charge. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/13 "2017-01-25T18:47:13Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > I think you mistake my response for giving the slightest shit about the legalisation of cannabis - on either side of the debate. Actually I sensed that you’d uselessly not “giv[e] the slightest shit about” it - figured I’d crapshoot something more outa ya - oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pot-dispensaries-in-the-u-k-eventually-happen/778071/14 "2017-01-25T22:06:41Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > …but nobody gives a shit if they just met those two others at the door. “Dave’s not here, man.”