The people of Southampton have spoken out about their thoughts on the legalisation of cannabis.

Recently The Echo spoke to Ricky Lambert, a cannabis smoker who is calling for the drug to be decriminalised in the wake of Germany legalising the drug at the beginning of April.

The article sparked discussion among our readers and attracted more than 130 comments, so we have asked locals in the city centre for their views.

READ MORE: Southampton cannabis smoker calls for the drug to be legal

Sean Mackenzie, 58, says he thinks “it should be legalised, because it causes too many problems not having it legalised.”

He says that the illegality of the drug costs “too much money” in terms of police resources.

This comes after a wave of illegal cannabis factories being discovered in homes across the city in the last couple of years.

Alfie Brown, a 19 year old from Hamble, agreed that, for the police, dealing with cannabis is a “massive disruption for such a little thing".

He argued that if weed were to be decriminalised, police would be able to focus on “more serious” issues, and pressure would be taken off Britain’s overflowing prisons.

But opponents to legalisation argue that it would actually lead to an increase in crime and antisocial behaviour due to the impact of the drug, meaning no reduction in police workload.

David Farrow, a 71-year-old from Locks Heath, says that legalisation would mean “a lot of youngsters who’ll be disorientated and falling about and doing stupid stuff” and further emphasised: “It’s not a safe drug. It’s not safe by any means.”

Alfie also acknowledged that decriminalisation would likely “cause antisocial behaviour because weed changes the way you act from time to time".

There are further concerns that legalising weed could act as a gateway to harder drugs, a possibility given credence by David and Alfie, but not by Sean.

The debate has seen a resurgence following a recent law change in Germany, legalising possession of the drug up to 25 grams, and allowing individuals to personally grow up to three plants.

The drug has been legal for years in other European countries such as Malta and Luxembourg and is effectively legal in the Netherlands through buying it at licensed coffee shops.

Speaking to The Echo previously, a spokesperson for the Home Office said: “We have no plans to decriminalise drugs as it would not eliminate drug dependence or prevent the illicit trade.

"Illegal drugs destroy lives and devastate communities.”