Only a quarter of those found with cannabis are charged by police as forces are accused of going soft on 'war on drugs'
Data shows that despite 68,513 people being found in possession of cannabis, only 17,000 were charged.
The rest were largely subject to a 'community resolution', which does not go on an individual's criminal record and, in most cases, simply means a warning not to do it again.
The maximum penalty for possession of cannabis, which is in the same category as amphetamines, ketamine and 'date rape' drug GHB – is five years in prison or an unlimited fine.
Last week, 14 police and crime commissioners called on policing minister Dame Diana Johnson MP to upgrade cannabis to a class A drug and said it was more harmful to society than heroin.
They also hit out at Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan 's backing for the decriminalisation of possession of small amounts of the drug.
The latest figures, which are from a Freedom of Information request and are based on a 12-month period up to September 2024, show a wide discrepancy between police forces.
Avon and Somerset have the most robust approach, charging almost four in five people it caught last year, but Thames Valley and Hampshire charged only one in eight.
The 14 police and crime commissioners also hit out at Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan's (pictured left) backing for the decriminalisation of possession of small amounts of the drug
In Wales, Dyfed-Powys charged just 8.6 per cent, while North Wales and South Wales forces took action against more than half. The Metropolitan Police charged 2,929 and gave out-of-court sanctions to 11,057.
Overall, 51,495 people caught with cannabis last year did not face court. Of those, 44,482 were dealt with via a community resolution, 3,619 were given a caution, 1,008 received an official warning and 2,386 were given an on-the-spot fine.
Avon and Somerset's former police and crime commissioner Mark Shelford said Sir Sadiq's call to decriminalise possession of small quantities was 'extremely foolish and dangerous', and accused him of 'pandering to a certain group in society who think this is cool and does no harm'.
Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said cannabis decriminalisation had proved a 'dangerous social experiment' elsewhere in the world.
Kevin Moore, ex-head of Sussex CID, described variations in charging rates as 'two-tier justice', and said many forces are 'in all likelihood' influenced by past sentencing and feel putting offenders before a court 'is a waste of everyone's time'.
Dyfed-Powys attributed its low charge rate to a 'policy to expand the number referred to treatment via an adult community resolution'.
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