Caller’s Impassioned Plea To Tim Farron: Don’t Legalise Cannabis

2 June 2017, 11:00 | Updated: 2 June 2017, 13:15

A voter has told Tim Farron the very tragic reason why she will no longer be voting for the Liberal Democrats in the general election.

Lucy got in touch as the party leader answered questions from listeners during LBC’s Leaders Live phone-in on Friday.

She told Mr Farron she was ready to back his party - until she saw the party’s controversial manifesto pledge on cannabis.  

The Lib Dems want to legalise selling and growing the class “B” drug and allow licensed shops to sell it to over-18s.

At the moment, you can be jailed for up to 14 years for supplying or producing it under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

While challenging Mr Farron on the topic, Lucy revealed the very personal reason she was against the idea.

“You wanna see my brother-in-law’s grave in Amsterdam,” the LBC caller said.

“He went on cannabis, he developed schizophrenia - he’s dead now. That’s because you can just buy it. Don’t legalise it, it’s going to make things worse. Stop it.”

In response, the Lib Dem leader said: “I’m really sorry to hear about your [brother-in-law].

“The evidence from around the world is that if you regulate it you massively reduce the chances of people going on to hard substances.”

Watch the pair's conversation in full above.