united-kingdom drugs
Possession of cannabis in UK
<p>What are the risks for the following in the UK:</p>
<ol>
<li>Possession of cannabis (~2g)</li>
<li>Consumption of cannabis</li>
</ol>
<p>For example, If i'm smoking cannabis in front of a police officer, under what obligations can they justify an arrest?</p>

<p><a href="/questions/tagged/england-and-wales" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;england-and-wales&#39;" rel="tag">england-and-wales</a></p>
<p>Usually, and assuming the smoker is aged 18 or over and there are no aggravating features, an arrest is not always necessary as what's referred to as &quot;simple possession&quot; is dealt with proportionately either by a:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kent.police.uk/foi-ai/kent-police/Policy/operational-partnerships/cannabis-warning-sop-o32e/#:%7E:text=A%20Cannabis%20Warning%20is%20a,Cannabis%2C%20consistent%20with%20personal%20use." rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cannabis Warning</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Which is:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>a non-statutory disposal. It can be used as a proportionate response to dealing with offenders found in possession of small amounts of cannabis. It is an informal warning, administered by a police officer, to adults found in possession of small amounts of Cannabis, consistent with personal use.</p>
<p>...</p>
<ul>
<li>First offence, no aggravating factors - Cannabis Warning;</li>
</ul>
<p>Second offence, no aggravating factors – PND <em>(see below)</em>;</p>
<p>Third offence – arrest.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Or, a:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/caution-warning-penalty" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Penalty Notices for Disorder</a> (PND):</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p>You’ll be asked to sign the penalty notice ticket. You won’t get a criminal conviction if you pay the penalty <em>(usually £60, but may be £90)</em></p>
<p>You can ask for a trial if you disagree with the penalty notice. You’ll get a bigger fine if you don’t ask for a trial but don’t pay the fine.</p>
</blockquote>
