Inside Teesside Cannabis Club where harm-reduction and community are crucial

Teesside has among the highest rate of drug-related deaths in England and Wales, but a progressive approach to substance use has been transformative for many who would otherwise be disenfranchised.

By Sarah Sinclair, first published 06 March 2024

“It’s not just about getting stoned,” Tom Sharrow, a freelance marketing and creative director and a member of Teesside Cannabis Club for the last three years, tells The Teesside Lead. 

“I’ve made lifelong friends here, one of them was the best man at my wedding.”

Tom, 32, is one of more than 600 members of …