Existing users aged under 18 will be automatically deleted by Facebook.  We anticipate this will lose us around 6% of our ‘likes’ and take us back down below 20,000 in total.  Nevertheless, after careful consideration, the executive committee has agreed that this is the responsible action to take.

Visitors to the website will shortly be asked to confirm their date of birth.  This will be a one time only requirement and your computer will use cookies to remember your answer.

New Age Restrictions On CLEAR Facebook Page and Website - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Hyde Park, 20th April 2013

The Hyde Park 420 event on 20th April 2013 was not a success for the British cannabis campaign.  It may have been an enjoyable social event for some but its effect has been to associate the legitimate campaign for cannabis law reform with the spectacle of hundreds of children smoking weed in public.

This is not the way to advance our cause and those responsible for organising and promoting children and teenagers to participate have shot themselves in the foot.  Responsible adult users and particularly those who need cannabis as medicine have been seriously set back by this event.

It’s not surprising that the media coverage was largely negative.  Estimates of attendance range from a few hundred to 10,000.  Neither is true.  I don’t know but from the photographs and having attended other events in the same location I would guess at around 5,000.  That’s not the point though. What it has done is present the British cannabis campaign as irresponsible and juvenile.  That makes it all the more difficult to complain about the media stories and, more importantly, to achieve positive, supportive  coverage.

Nevertheless, CLEAR submitted formal complaints to the BBC about its website article and about Mary Brett’s appearance on Radio London’s Vanessa Feltz show.  We have also made a PCC complaint about the Daily Mail’s coverage.

Website complaint

This article is unbalanced and gives credence and space to wildly inaccurate, sensationalist and scaremongering comments from Mary Brett. No counterbalancing information is given.

Cannabis cannot by any scientific or medical evidence be described as ’dangerous’. It is a generally benign substance although it does offer some potential for harm, only if used by children. This is clearly shown by the vast amount of published, peer reviewed evidence on the subject. Compared to almost any other substance it is far, far safer – much safer than aspirin according to the government’s chief drugs advisor, Prof Leslie Iversen.

‘Skunk’ is a specific strain of cannabis. It accounts for a tiny fraction of the market, not 80%. It is the same substance as was around in the sixties and seventies and it is nonsense to suggest otherwise.

To describe any strain of cannabis as ‘horrific’ is absurd and has no basis in science, medicine or any evidence. That the BBC gives Ms Brett licence to distribute her false, misleading propaganda is a disgrace.

 Radio London complaint

The opportunity given to Mary Brett to advance a line of argument that is disproven by all published research was disgraceful.

Her casual use of the word skunk as a derogatory and scaremongering term was inaccurate and misleading. Skunk is a single strain of cannabis which accounts for a fraction of a percent of the cannabis used in the UK.

The THC percentage figures given by Ms Brett were inaccurate. The allegation that cannabis “dumbs the brain down” is false and has no basis in evidence. In fact, cannabis promotes neurogenesis in the hippocampus and has been used for millennia by artists and writers as an aid to creativity.

It was inaccurate to claim that all people in Hyde Park were teenagers. There were people of all ages, many of retirement age and many who use cannabis for medicinal purposes. There is no scientific basis for describing cannabis as dangerous. Compared to all other drugs, even aspirin, it is far less harmful. Evidence proves that in the UK alcohol is six times more likely to be associated with mental health problems than cannabis.

Ms Brett was also allowed to misrepresent two studies concerning the Lambeth cannabis experiment in the same way as recently published in the press which has been challenged by the authors of the studies and are subject to PCC complaints. It is absolutely false to state that more ‘kids’ are in treatment for cannabis than for alcohol. Ms Brett is a misguided promoter of false science and has no place on the BBC.

We have yet to receive a response concerning Radio London but Laura Ellis from the BBC News website has replied:

I have looked again at the story and I believe it is a balanced and factual account of the event – a mass gathering at which hundreds of people were breaking the law as it currently stands.

We feature a range of comments, including a tweet from the London Cannabis Club. There are also clear links to a picture gallery of the global marijuana march, which includes information about the potential medicinal aspect of cannabis, as well as an article with the headline ‘Cannabis makes pain more bearable’.

Best regards, and thanks for your feedback which is much appreciated.

We’re not leaving it there though!

Dear Ms Ellis,

I am dismayed at your response to my complaint which fails to address the issues I raised at all.

As for your suggestion that it is a “balanced” account of the event, that is preposterous and just does not stand up to analysis.

Your response and indeed the article itself is predicated on your description that it was “a mass gathering at which hundreds of people were breaking the law as it currently stands”.

Is that how you would have covered a protest about the ‘bedroom tax’ or changes to planning law? Of course not. You would have looked at the issues involved, not just resorted to prejudice and dismissal of widespread public concern about the injustice of the present laws against cannabis.

I am afraid that your response really shines a light on gross bias and distortion of this story in the BBC. A recent Ipsos MORI poll shows 53% of the British public want cannabis legalised or decriminalised: http://transform-drugs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/new-ipsos-mori-poll-shows-53-of-gb.html

What is truly appaling though, which you have completely overlooked and is in brazen defiance of the requirement on the BBC to be balanced is your unchallenged repetition of Mary Brett’s falsehood and misrepresentation of the scientific evidence about cannabis.

In my original complaint I referenced specific inaccuracies but you have simply ignored them. I am afraid your blandishments cut no ice. Such misleading, inaccurate and prejudiced coverage is what we expect from the Daily Mail but not from our national broadcaster which is paid for out of public money.

Please address my complaint properly. If you will not publish a prominent correction and apology and re-balance your coverage, I fully intend to take this to the Editorial Complaints Unit.

BBC Responds To CLEAR Complaints On Cannabis Coverage - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Dr Gary Potter

The claim concerned statements published on the GCCRC website by Chris Bovey, Alun Buffry and others involved in the campaign of hatred and abuse against CLEAR and its members. Dr Potter has published an apology on the GCCRC website which describes the statements as “derogatory“, “without evidence” and “defamatory“.

The apology can be seen in full here.

Further terms of the settlement are confidential.

Peter Reynolds, leader of CLEAR, said:

“This is the first victory in the fight back against the smear campaign directed at CLEAR.  Legal action continues against others involved. I’m really proud of the way that my colleagues on the executive and our members have stayed true in the face of the most disgusting lies and false allegations. Throughout some very difficult times, we have remained focused on our efforts to end the prohibition of cannabis, most urgently for those who need it as medicine.”

Dr Gary Potter Of London South Bank University Apologises To CLEAR. - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Joel Dalais

Joel Dalais, formerly Director of Membership of CLEAR, is no longer a member of the CLEAR executive committee. His resignation is accepted with great regret. He is a victim of the most underhand and vicious behaviour by those who oppose CLEAR.

For more than a year, CLEAR has been subject to attack from a small but vociferous group also involved in the cannabis campaign. This has taken the form of systematic abuse, harassment and defamation, in particular of Peter Reynolds, but also various members of the executive and some of our members. People on the board of the UK chapter of NORML (NUK) are prominent in this campaign as is evidenced by their frequent publication of derogatory comments.

Currently three members of the NUK board are the subject of High Court claims for defamation. There is also an ongoing investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission into alleged offences by NUK board members including theft, blackmail, fraud, criminal harassment, malicious communications, computer hacking, interception of communications and more.

This situation is not of CLEAR’s making. It is not something any of us wanted and we seek reconciliation and compromise. No one at CLEAR has ever engaged in the sort of personal attacks and abuse which are the habitual pattern of some NUK board members and can regularly be seen published in their name.

This week, in the latest incident, perpetrated through anonymous ‘tormail’ accounts, Joel Dalais was befriended by a ‘Sarah’ who he foolishly trusted and in so doing played a dangerous game with someone he thought was a wealthy,’underground’ activist who wanted to donate to the CLEAR campaign. The end result was a scam in which he was offered a gift of cocaine. This extremely naïve e-mail exchange was then published and distorted in an attempt to smear the whole of the CLEAR executive.

This happened on Saturday night, 23rd March 2013, and Joel was suspended from the executive committee on Sunday while an investigation took place. Understandably, he was devastated by the embarrassment he had caused the party. He is a medicinal user of cannabis due to an incurable, degenerative bone disease and is prone to depression. Unfortunately, in a disturbed and angry state of mind and very much against our advice, yesterday evening he published a foolish and ill-judged document which has led to a grossly hypocritical retort from the board of NUK, published on its Facebook page which seeks falsely to claim innocence of any involvement at all.

Joel was an extremely talented, enthusiastic and committed member of the CLEAR team who has made a serious mistake. We greatly regret that he can no longer remain a member of the executive because of the publication of his document. The truth is that he was hounded and persecuted by those concerned until he lost control of his actions. This is a tragedy which should weigh heavily on the consciences of those responsible.

CLEAR does not associate the estimable and reputable US organisation NORML with the conduct of those concerned in the management of its UK chapter who have consistently supported the campaign of disruption against CLEAR.

We remain focused on our objective of ending the prohibition of cannabis.  Our record speaks for itself.  No conflict has ever been initiated from here.

No further statement or comment will be made in relation to this matter until the conclusion of the civil proceedings against those who are involved in this sustained and continuing abuse.

A Statement Concerning Joel Dalais - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Iain Lee of BBC Three Counties Radio

Peter Reynolds on the BBC 3CR breakfast show with Iain Lee, discussing the Crimestoppers scratch ‘n’ sniff card campaign aimed at catching cannabis growers

LISTEN HERE

Peter Reynolds, Three Counties Radio, 19th March 2013 - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Roland Gyallay-Pap

A very warm welcome to Roland Gyallay-Pap, the latest highly-valued member of the CLEAR executive committee.

A CLEAR member since September 2011, Roland has a great deal of experience working as a comment warrior.  He is now appointed as Director of the CLEAR Media Team and automatically assumes a seat on the executive committee.

Roland was born in Belgium to Austrian and American parents but has lived in the UK for 15 years and now regards London as his home.

He graduated at the University of York and has an MSc in Applied Environmental Economics from Imperial College.  He is currently studying for a qualification with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. His interests include politics, pool billiards and gardening.

Roland Gyallay-Pap Joins CLEAR Executive Committee - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Michael Ellis MP

We’ll call our member ‘Jack Clear’ but his MP deserves no such discretion.  I have written to him, asking his permission to publish this correspondence but he has not replied.  So be it.  As a record of an MP’s discussion with his constituent, it is in the public interest to publish it.

Michael Ellis is a member of the Home Affairs select committee and during last year’s drugs inquiry he revealed himself to be as about as hard line as they come. See here for a review of his behaviour at the inquiry including video .

He is a graduate in Public Law and was called to the bar at Middle Temple in 1993.  He practices in Northampton as a criminal barrister usually defending people on legal aid. He has been MP for Northampton North since the general election of 2010.

Judge for yourself from this correspondence how well he deals with the evidence about cannabis. Would you want him representing you in any sort of assessment of facts and evidence?

7th September 2012

Dear Mr. Ellis,

I am very concerned about the law on cannabis. It seems to me that a lot of mistakes are being made and that government policy is more concerned with what the tabloids publish rather than the facts.

Every week in my local newspaper there are stories about the police raiding “cannabis factories”. Usually the people they catch are illegal immigrants, who may even be the victims of human trafficking, or ordinary men and women growing a few plants for their own use, often as a medicine. I can’t see that police raids with riot gear, dogs and associated violence is the right way to deal with this.

Surely, the truth is that it’s the law that causes all these problems? Whatever the Daily Mail says, even with the psychosis scare stories, it’s pretty clear that cannabis is much less harmful than alcohol. Why aren’t we allowing people to grow it if they want to instead of creating this criminal market which leads to all sorts of problems? I understand that six million people in Britain use cannabis regularly. Why are we giving this huge market to criminals?

Most people use cannabis without any problem at all. Why not introduce a tax and regulate system? I understand that new research shows this would benefit the UK economy by at least £6 billion per annum. We could have a properly regulated supply chain with no criminals involved, no theft of electricity, no human trafficking, no destruction of property and no disruption of neighbourhoods. Then there would be some control over this huge market. There would be thousands of new jobs, sales would be from licensed outlets to adults only with guaranteed quality and safety. Then our police could start going after some real wrongdoing instead of trying to fight a crime that exists only because of a misguided government policy.

The current policy on cannabis just makes no sense. Please can I ask you to do whatever you can to change it?

Yours sincerely,

‘Jack Clear’

8th September 2012

Dear Mr ‘Clear’,

Thank you for your email regarding cannabis law.

I appreciate you feel passionate about this and think that this is an important debate. Drug use is something currently being considered in the Home Affairs Select Committee, of which I am a member. We have interviewed various drugs experts, Sir Richard Branson and even the comedian Russell Brand (who himself has beaten addiction). I would invite you to look out for the Select Committee report on drugs that will be forthcoming.

I would however like to make clear my opposition to legalising and liberalising our laws on drugs, including cannabis.

There are several reasons for this. Firstly, cannabis is a gateway drug- perhaps the most famous one. It has been shown consistently to be the first drug on the road to addiction to life ruining drugs like cocaine and heroin. By discouraging people society reduces the likelihood that they will fall into that horrendous downward spiral. This drug is however notoriously dependable and people often become addicted when they don’t even realise it.

Secondly, there are serious health issues with regards to cannabis- predominantly mental health issues, which I believe would become exacerbated if we were to legalise this drug. Studies from around the world consistently show a correlation between cannabis use and psychotic illness. It is known to raise the risk of schizophrenia, depression, paranoia and other mental illnesses in some cases by up to 40%. This is even more tragic when people have pre-existing mental illnesses or having overcome a mental illness relapse after becoming dependent on cannabis again. Smoking cigarettes, whilst many may find it unpleasant, does not provide the same harmful mental side effects.

I do feel strongly that we as a society should not just punish the use of drugs but do everything we can to rehabilitate offenders and reduce their dependency and addiction.

I regret that we may have to agree to disagree on this issue, but I appreciate you taking the time to convey your views and write to me. If there is anything else I can be of assistance with please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Ellis

 9th September 2012

Dear Mr Ellis,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my previous email, however I am concerned about some of the issues you have raised regarding cannabis.

You have mentioned the popular theory that cannabis acts as a gateway to harmful drugs such as cocaine and heroin. The American Medical Association made the following report in 2003:

“Alternatively, experience with and subsequent access to cannabis use may provide individuals with access to other drugs as they come into contact with drug dealers. This argument provided a strong impetus for the Netherlands to effectively decriminalize cannabis use in an attempt to separate cannabis from the hard drug market. This strategy may have been partially successful as rates of cocaine use among those who have used cannabis are lower in the Netherlands than in the United States.”

The fact that the cannabis market is in the hands of illegal drug dealers instead of government regulation is what causes the increased probability that a cannabis user will try other drugs. Furthermore, it is believed that 85% of cannabis users do not use hard drugs. If cannabis were truly a gateway drug, shouldn’t this number be a lot smaller?

You also mentioned that there were mental health issues which could become exacerbate following the legalisation of cannabis. While it is agreed upon by both scientists and advocates that cannabis should not be used by those with a pre-existing mental health condition as it may accentuate the symptoms, the belief that the use of cannabis increases the risk of a psychotic illness in those who have no prior mental health issues has been found to be flawed. Additionally, new evidence suggests that small doses of medicinal grade THC can be beneficial to sufferers.

Also, I must express how disappointed I am with your comment regarding the use of cigarettes Mr Ellis. Although it is accepted that tobacco does not cause mental health issues, the use of cigarettes killed approximately 81,400 in The UK in 2009 according to the NHS. Considering that there has never been a single death attributed to cannabis, I urge you to re-consider before shining tobacco in a brighter light.

Finally, I feel that your response implicitly suggests that cannabis is an addictive substance. Time and time again it has been scientifically proven that the potential for addiction to cannabis is far lower than alcohol, tobacco, or even caffeine. Those that oppose a reform to cannabis law often use statistics for teenagers in rehabilitation as evidence that that this substance is in fact addictive. However, let’s consider the following scenario.

A teenage boy is in court facing charges for possession of cannabis. The judge tells the boy that he can be rehabilitated for addiction, or he will go to prison.

If you were in this situation, what would you do? I guarantee the vast majority of people faced with this situation will opt for rehab, not because they are addicted, but because they do no want to go to prison.

I hope that you will appreciate the arguments I have made here, and that you may wish to further research cannabis so that you may see why the government’s own drug advisers, as well as drug advisers from around the world have been saying for years that possession of cannabis should have no criminal penalty attached to it.

If you find the time to do so, please read some of the information provided on the website of Cannabis Law Reform (http://www.clear-uk.org/).

Also, The Union: The Business Behind Getting High, is a fantastic documentary about why cannabis was made illegal, why it is still illegal, and why the law should be changed. It is based in The US and Canada, but it is still relevant to our laws here.

Yours sincerely,

‘Jack Clear’

10th September 2012

Dear Mr ‘Clear’,

Thank you for your reply.

As I said in my original email I feel we will have to agree to disagree on this matter.

With regards to what you have said about gateway drugs, I do not think the simple fact that cocaine use by cannabis users is lower in the Netherlands than the United States means that cannabis is not a gateway drug. There are many more factors that need to be considered.

I do also understand that there is debate about the effect of cannabis on mental health. However, with the advent of increased strength cannabis this problem is said to be worsening.

As to your final point I would say that I have never suggested to you that rehabilitation is not a good option. On the contrary I believe strongly that rehabilitation is important – but society can focus resources on rehabilitation without decriminalising a drug that destroys lives and families.

Thank you again for taking the time to write to me. If I can be of assistance in any further matter please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Ellis

Inside The Mind Of A Hard Line Prohibitionist: Michael Ellis MP - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Fellowship of the party is the highest honour.  It is awarded to those who are true heroes in the cause, who have gone way above and beyond the call of duty and have made a real difference. It confers all the benefits of full membership for life without any subscription fees.

Jack & Tina Girling

This tale of two unassuming pensioners, living in a quiet corner of Norwich, needs to be told.

Jack and Tina Girling have been campaigning loudly and proudly for more years than most cannabis users have been alive. Always at the forefront of the cause, they began way back in 1978 with the original Legalise Cannabis Campaign.  They built support in their local area and  founded the Campaign to Legalise Cannabis.  They began by writing to the Queen, all politicians, archbishops, lawyers, judges, and doctors, right across the country.  In 1991 they changed the name to the Campaign to Legalise Cannabis International Association (CLCIA).

They organized the first cannabis marches and festivals in London along with the Exodus Collective (creators of the famous cheese strain).  They appeared on several TV and radio shows, ran stalls at Glastonbury, pouring thousands of pounds of their own money in to the campaign.  Eventually, believing standing in elections offered a way forward, they changed the name to the Legalise Cannabis Party and Howard Marks stood in the first election in 1997, using Jack and Tina’s home as the campaign centre.

Two years later, in 1999, the name was changed to the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) which fielded local and parliamentary election candidates across the country.  After a turbulent period with cannabis being downgraded to class C and then back up to B,  eventually, in 2011, the party re-launched as Cannabis Law Reform – CLEAR.

Jack and Tina have been the inspiration for all the cannabis groups that now exist in Britain.  No one deserves this honour more than them and all of us – CLEAR, NORML UK, the cannabis social clubs, all British cannabis campaigners – owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

Janice Wells

Janice Wells took her first steps in the cause in 1978 when she joined the Legalise Cannabis Campaign and took part in a march and a picnic.  Later she joined the LCA and still remembers volunteering to work as she couldn’t afford the membership fee.  She started to help with membership admin and eventually became secretary.  Jan was instrumental in the process that led to the re-launch as CLEAR and what has been the rebirth of the whole campaign in Britain.  She stood firm through difficult times as we re-registered as a party and dealt with the difficult changes necessary to become an effective and up to date campaign.  Jan has been the backbone of CLEAR’s administration.  She will be sorely missed from the team but becomes an honoured life fellow of the party.

Life Fellowship Awards - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

A programme of speakers, Q&A sessions, discussions and entertainment is now being organised.  A formal general meeting of the party will also take place when members may submit motions and resolutions in accordance with the party’s constitution.  Full details will be published soon.

The conference will also be the launch of the leadership election campaign.  My present term of office expires on 15th February 2014 so we need to have the election completed before the end of 2013.  Full details of the election and procedures for nominating candidates will be published shortly.

CLEAR Members Conference - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Giving out Leaflets: Meet up with others from your local branch and decide on a place to stand and for how long. Then go visit this location (make sure you’re not breaking any laws, you will need permission if it is private property). Then give out leaflets and be prepared to chat to people about the topic. Avoid confrontations, chat to those interested, and remember, truth is on your side.

Arrange Talks: You might know your local area well enough that you could arrange a talk at a local venue, or if you manage to get the funds, to hire out a small venue for a set date and promote a talk on the subject (more guidance can be given if this is a route your branch is seriously intending to follow).

Counter Local Media: Often your local media will take letters from the public. If your branch is inclined, you might want to organise a regular communication with your local newspaper, email them often, build up a rapport, correcting them when possible and trying to educate your local area.

Create Your Own Ideas: Your Local Branch is yours, you know your area best and you can plan and design events specific for your branch members and for your locality. Help to inspire your branch leader into new and creative ideas, and remember, we’ll be keeping a list of each branch’s events, so don’t be shy to ask each other and learn from each other.

Local Branches – What Your Branch Can Do! - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

“Plaid Cymru is for the decriminalisation of cannabis for medicinal use and to free up police time.

From a political perspective it’s important to recognise the ‘public fear factor’. Those who do not differentiate between different substances can become very fearful of the potential consequences of legalising or decriminalising any drugs.

Its illegality makes it more scary for people. I have learned in politics that you have to work with people where they are and not where we might want them to be.”

Leanne Wood, Leader, Plaid Cymru, February 2013, interviewed by Gwynedd Cannabis Club.

Leanne Wood Speaking at a CLEAR Rally in Cardiff

Leanne Wood And Plaid Cymru Support The Cannabis Campaign - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Contact: Peter Reynolds
Tel: 07880872022
peterreynolds@clear-uk.org

Reply to press@clear-uk.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – NO EMBARGO

CLEAR Offers Volunteer Canvassers To Eastleigh Liberal Democrats

CLEAR has approached the Eastleigh Liberal Democrats with an offer of practical help and support in their by-election campaign.

Peter Reynolds, leader of CLEAR, has suggested that up to a dozen volunteer canvassers could be made available in Eastliegh for the LibDems.

“All we want in return is for Mike Thornton, the LibDem candidate, to endorse his party’s own official policy on cannabis.  Then we will throw all our support and energy right behind him.”

Since 2011 the Liberal Democrat’s policy on cannabis has been to consider “potential frameworks for a strictly controlled and regulated cannabis market and the potential impacts of such regulation on organised crime, and the health and safety of the public, especially children.”

Reynolds stood as a candidate in the recent Corby by-election and came ninth out of fourteen candidates.

“We’re a single issue party and we don’t really aim to win seats. What we want to do is influence policy. The LibDems are the only major party with a rational and evidence-based policy on cannabis.  Cameron dismissed the recent drugs inquiry report and then admitted he hadn’t even read it. The Labour Party is too scared of the tabloid press even to mention the subject. UKIP at least calls for a Royal Commission on drug policy”

CLEAR campaigns for an end to the prohibition of cannabis, most urgently by permitting doctors to prescribe it for medicinal use.  In addition, a tax and regulate policy would better protect children by removing the £6 billion market from the control of criminals.  Independent expert research shows that a net gain of up to £9.3 billion pa could result from cost savings and new tax revenue.

Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR) is a political party registered with the Electoral Commission under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) to promote the cause of cannabis law reform, with the aim of replacing the anarchic mess of prohibition with a framework of real legal control which would allow proper control of the trade, ensure proper regulation of the product in terms of strength and purity and provide proper protection for vulnerable people such as children.

ENDS

***

If you would like more information on this topic or an other aspect of the work of Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR), or to arrange an interview with Peter Reynolds please contact him on 07880 872022

peterreynolds@clear-uk.org
or contact the CLEAR Press agent Derek Williams 07453 975696
press@clear-uk.orgCannabis Law Reform, 42-46 Bethel Street, Norwich, NR2 1NR

News Release – CLEAR Offers Volunteer Canvassers To Eastleigh Liberal Democrats - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

SCRAs and ‘legal highs are the product of prohibition.  It is David Cameron, Theresa May and the dangerous, irresponsible policies of our government which are responsible for these nasty substances flooding our country. If cannabis were legally available, even under stringent regulations,  there would be no demand for SCRAs.

The surge in ‘legal highs’, not only those that seek to substitute for cannabis but also those that mimic cocaine or MDMA, reveals the truth about our government and those that make drugs policy.  They care not at all about users’ health.  Their irresponsible policies actually cause harm, particularly to young people.

Doctors have coined the term ‘excited delirium’ for the effects seen from SCRAs.  There is good evidence they can cause heart palpitations, seizures, vomiting, severe anxiety, paranoid delusions, violent tendencies and even death.

One of  the difficulties is that the retailer where you choose to buy rolling papers, grinders, pipes, vapourisers or other cannabis accessories will also be selling legal highs. It’s easy to have some sympathy with individual retailers, on the high street or online, who, in tough times, need to keep their businesses afloat.  The real villains are the distributors who import unidentifiable white powders, usually from China, and then package them for sale with no information about contents, dosage or safety. Often, even if sold as legal, they contain chemicals which have already been banned and so could easily land  you in just as much trouble as a bit of weed.

Real cannabis is much, much safer. We know that mankind has used cannabis safely and effectively for more than 5,000 years.  Just as our ridiculous drug laws have led to dirty needles, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C amongst opiate addicts, so now even those who choose relatively harmless substances are in real danger.

CLEAR’s EX-SCRA campaign aims to expose the truth about SCRAs but now we must take it further.  We will be publishing a blacklist  of retailers and distributors engaged in this irresponsible and evil trade.  This will be updated regularly as we receive new information. We will also be promoting and endorsing  retailers and distributors who stand against SCRAs.  They will be entitled to display a CLEAR EX-SCRA logo on their advertisements, websites and shop premises. They are the people you should give your business to.

We cannot rely on a malevolent and irresponsible government to protect us so we must take responsibility ourselves.  Let’s expose the truth about SCRAs and the people and companies that profit out of them. Let’s drive them out of Britain!

Fight for the right for REAL cannabis!

We Must Be CLEAR About The Dangers Of ‘Synthetic Cannabis’ - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Watch the video of the debate here including interviews with Peter Reynolds and Peter Hitchens.

Peter Reynolds of CLEAR and Dr Stephen Davies of the Institute of Economic Affairs for the proposition.

Peter Hitchens of the Mail on Sunday and David Raynes of the National Drug Prevention Alliance against the proposition.

‘This House Would Legalise Cannabis’, University Of Exeter, 29th November 2012 - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

15th December 2012, BBC Radio 4, prohibition of cannabis

29th November 2012, BBC Radio Leeds, cannabis

22nd November 2012, BBC Radio Solent, cannabis

19th October 2012, Talk Radio Europe, the CLEAR campaign

18th October 2012, BBC Radio Kent, cannabis legalisation

15th October 2012, BBC Radio West Midlands, the UK Drug Policy Commission report

15th October 2012, BBC Radio West Midlands, the ‘dangers’ of cannabis

15th October 2012, BBC Radio 2, cannabis cultivation

15th October 2012, BBC Radio London, cannabis cultivation

6th October 2012, Legalise Freedom Radio, the CLEAR campaign

25th September 2012, The Ben Fellows Radio Show, the CLEAR campaign

28th August 2012, BBC Three Counties Radio, cannabis and IQ

28th August 2012, BBC Radio 4, cannabis and IQ

17th August 2012, BBC Radio Gloucestershire, legal highs and prohibition

2nd July 2012, BBC Radio London, widespread cannabis use

11th May 2012, BBC Radio London, cannabis and mental health

13th March 2012, The Lou Collins Radio Show, the CLEAR campaign

1st March 2012, BBC Three Counties Radio, cannabis ‘addiction’

CLEAR On the Radio In 2012 - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party