An MSP has urged the Prime Minister to copy Canada and legalise cannabis.
The North American country became the second in the world to allow people to buy the drug for recreational use on Wednesday.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said the law in Britain is “outdated and harmful”.
“Theresa May should follow Justin Trudeau’s lead in this liberal and sensible approach to legalising cannabis,” he said.
“What’s more by legalising cannabis we could raise up to £1 billion annually in taxes, money that could be invested in policing, health and education.”
Earlier this month, Luke Graham, the Scottish Conservative MP in Perthshire, called on the UK Government to launch a full review of drugs policy, pointing to higher tax revenues and falling violent crime rates in American states where cannabis had been legalised.
Hundreds queued outside shops in the eastern island of Newfoundland to be the first to legally purchase the drug since prohibition ended at the stroke of midnight.
Medical cannabis has been legally available in Canada since 2001.
The Home Office has said it has “no plans” to legalise cannabis, adding doing so would send the “wrong message” about a harmful drug, not eliminate associated crime and fail to tackle drug dependence.
