I currently live in Manchester and your comment is insightful, thanks. As far as I have read in other articles, spice is also way cheaper than weed, maybe this

I currently live in Manchester and your comment is insightful, thanks. As far as I have read in other articles, spice is also way cheaper than weed, maybe this has been a contributing factor as well. The sight of comatose homeless people in Manchester's city center is part of the scenery and extremely sad. Also, Piccadilly Gardens is still 'the place' where drugs are sold, at least as far as I know. I got asked more than once if I 'want anything' by shady-looking individuals. The smell is still there, both in Piccadilly and, generally, in Manchester. As a personal anecdote, excluding the areas right next to coffeeshops, you can smell weed more often in Manchester than in Amsterdam.