In the current system, minority groups are more likely to face police interventions, such as stop-and-search, and more likely to receive custodial sentences for drug law infringements. According to Release UK “black people were stopped and searched for drugs at 6.3 times the rate of white people, while Asian people were stopped and searched for drugs at 2.5 times the rate, and those identifying as mixed race were stopped and searched for drugs at twice the rate of white people”.

Minors from ethnic backgrounds are also reportedly at significant risk. There is also the issue of individuals incarcerated for medicinal usage.

According to West Midlands Police, unregulated cannabis farms are very dangerous places and pose a serious risk of fire. Often the electricity meter has been bypassed and seriously overloaded electrical circuits run close to water-filled pipes. In 2012, it was reported that over £200m worth of electricity was stolen. Plants grown upstairs in a building can also cause floorboards to rot, presenting the danger of collapse.

It is also important to consider that sometimes the people working in these ‘farms’ are victims of human trafficking and working against their will. Amongst those, Thais, Vietnamese and Albanians are most vulnerable, with a large proportion of those individuals being minors.

Illegal activity at scale can result in social unrest, as is evidenced by the county-lines crisis as “criminals are using burgers and warm coats to recruit hungry, cold children into county lines gangs in towns and cities across the UK, experts are warning”.

In an unregulated market, the end user does not have an MHRA approved product complying with the high standards imposed on all UK medicines. Quality controls are the backbone of the pharmaceutical industry and are designed to protect society. Furthermore, there is limited structured patient care or safeguarding, in an illegal setting. This can leave vulnerable people open to potential deviation from a suitable medicine, and appropriate dosages, to treat a chronic condition.

The regulated ‘specials’ medicinal market has tested and certified products that are:

• Free from micro-toxins (tested to the British Pharmacopeia).
• Free from heavy metals and pesticides
• Accurate labels showing the percentage of THC and CBD, as well as other cannabinoids.
• Warning labels about the dangers of the product (such as drowsiness).
• Providence labels showing where product has been manufactured.
• Advice from health care professionals on appropriate dosages and titration.

The growth of a medicinal cannabis industry can bring numerous economic benefits to the UK, such as the creation of jobs in local communities, and capital investment. This is especially important in more rural settings where agriculture is suffering from factors such as global warming and reduced agricultural subsidies.

However, there are various socio-economic inequalities in the industry that need to be reviewed such as the diversity landscape, ensuring that there are fair and ethical opportunities for recruitment, employee progression and entrepreneurship.

Minority groups, specifically females, BAME and LGBTQIA+ community and individuals with a disability, are most likely to be vulnerable to systematic identity based racism or discrimination issues and have an unfair disadvantage.

Notably, these groups are also often underrepresented in clinical research and mainstream media. Recently, a UK study at Kings College London titled “Cannabis & Me” has struggled to attract black and Asian UK users, due to the study being met with suspicion on how data will be used and distrust of the establishment.