Aasmah Mir, LBC Radio

Peter Hitchens

Peter Reynolds

LISTEN HERE

Aasmah Mir interviews Peter Reynolds and Peter Hitchens in response to newspaper reports that the 2001 Lambeth cannabis experiment increased crime and hospital admissions for hard drug use.

Peter Reynolds, LBC Radio, 5th April 2013 - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Andrew Castle, BBC Radio London

LISTEN HERE

Andrew Castle interviews Peter Reynolds about the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph cannabis scare stories.

Peter Reynolds, BBC Radio London, 5th April 2013 - 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

Peter Levy of BBC Radio Humberside

An excellent, in-depth interview in which Peter Reynolds tears apart Crimestoppers’ anti-cannabis scratch ‘n’ sniff campaign.

LISTEN HERE

Peter Reynolds, BBC Radio Humberside, 22nd March 2013 - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Simon Lederman of BBC Radio London

Simon Lederman interviews Peter Reynolds about the Crimestoppers anti-cannabis-growers campaign.

LISTEN HERE

Peter Reynolds, BBC Radio London, 19th March 2013 - 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

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

Toby Friedner and Dr Chetna Kang

LISTEN HERE

Peter Reynolds discusses cannabis and mental health with consultant psychiatrist Dr Chetna Kang and Toby Friedner.

Peter Reynolds, BBC Three Counties Radio, Shrink Wrapped, 3rd February 2013 - 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

2012 was a tumultuous year which saw great progress in the development of the cannabis campaign and, most importantly, the introduction of responsible and intelligent legal regulation in Colorado and Washington state.

Derek Williams, CLEAR website editor and member of our executive committee, has already published an excellent review of the main events of 2012.  My purpose here is to look forward to what we aim to achieve in 2013.

I must, however, thank all those on the executive committee for their hard work, loyalty and courage:  Joel Dalais, Buster Dawson, Alan Hobday, Mark Palmer, Graham Smith, Jan Wells and Derek Williams.  Special thanks also to the CLEAR media team and all the Comment Warriors who have worked so hard to tell the truth and confront the media’s insatiable appetite for misinformation and scare stories about cannabis.

CLEAR is the largest membership-based drug reform group that Britain has ever seen.  Despite treacherous attempts to sabotage our work we have stayed focused, on message and we are the voice of responsible, evidence-based cannabis law reform in Britain.  Other groups represent the ‘stoner’ community but these are only a tiny proportion of the millions of  cannabis users in Britain.  CLEAR will continue to engage in the mainstream political process.  We will not discredit the arguments for reform by indulging in the sort of cannabis evangelism that has held back progress for so long.  There is more than enough evidence on our side without resorting to ‘hemp will save the world’ or ‘cannabis cures cancer’.  These distortions and wild exaggerations make fools of those who advance them.  Our arguments will always be based on science and evidence.

We have much work yet to do following the completion of the HASC drugs inquiry.  Much as with Leveson, its recommendations were the very minimum that could reasonably follow from the evidence yet were rejected out of hand by an out of touch, arrogant and incoherent coalition government.  Unlike Leveson, the evidence heard was partial, unbalanced and ruthlessly cherry picked to avoid upsetting the political establishment.  Most worrying was its absolute failure to consider the interests of the vast majority of non-problematic drug users and Keith Vaz’ shameful denial that medicinal cannabis was an issue it should have considered.  Despite us maintaining a dialogue with the committee for more than a year on medicinal use, it was only after the inquiry finished that Vaz claimed it was not within its remit.  Yet again, Home and Health are passing the buck back and forth while hundreds of thousands suffer and live in fear of punishment merely for seeking to relieve their pain or disability.

Our Comment Warriors campaign will continue and we intend to co-ordinate it with efforts to engage the new Police and Crime Commissioners in setting more intelligent priorities for law enforcement resources.

Our pledge never to allow untruths about cannabis to be published without challenge also continues.  We await with interest the replacement for the discredited and useless Press Complaints Commission.  However, whilst it remain the only avenue for complaints we will continue to use it.  We will also continue to make formal complaints to the police when officers step over the line from their duty into politicking and propaganda.

Joel Dalais will be heading up a new membership and fundraising drive.  We can do nothing without funding and the party still relies too much on executive committee members paying their own travelling expenses as well as giving their time for free.  We are in the process of applying for substantial, long-term funding from several grant-making institutions.

If the HASC drugs inquiry was our main focus through 2012, then in 2013 we have a plan to communicate directly with the general public and the media.  This will involve significant monthly expenditure, more than ever seen before by the cannabis campaign.  We will need your help and your money to make this succeed.

We also intend to ramp up our efforts to co-ordinate the lobbying of MPs.  Many have tried but failed to make this work effectively.  We aim to get in front of ministers within the coming year, to look in the eyes of those in charge at the Home Office and Department of Health and interrupt their game of ping pong with the issue of medicinal cannabis.

In order to develop these plans further we will hold a two-day strategic planning meeting later this month for the executive committee.  At that time we will also finalise plans for our first national conference which will take place in the spring.

Thank you for your support and encouragement through the past year.  Never before have the prospects for legalisation been so realistic.  This is entirely because of the professional, business-like approach taken by our colleagues in the US.  CLEAR is the only group pursuing reform in Britain in an equivalent and effective fashion.

By the end of this month we will have set out clearly what you can do to help. Please join with us, dig deep to provide the financial support necessary for success and let’s all have high expectations for what we can achieve.  I guarantee you that everyone at CLEAR will dedicate themselves and all their efforts as never before.

The CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform Campaign In 2013 - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

LISTEN HERE

Peter Reynolds, BBC Radio 4, Any Answers, 15th December 2012 - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

Liz Green of BBC Radio Leeds

LISTEN HERE

Peter Reynolds, BBC Radio Leeds, The Liz Green Show, 29th November 2012 - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

BBC Radio Solent’s Alex Dyke

LISTEN HERE

Peter Reynolds, BBC Radio Solent,The Alex Dyke Show, 22nd November 2012 - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – NO EMBARGO

CLEAR Is Breaking The Taboo

‘Breaking the Taboo’ is a groundbreaking new documentary which uncovers the UN sanctioned war on drugs, charting its origins and its devastating impact on countries like the USA, Colombia and Russia. The film follows The Global Commission on Drug Policy on a mission to break the political taboo and expose the biggest failure of global policy in the last 50 years.

The film is narrated by Morgan Freeman and features prominent statesman such as Presidents Clinton and Carter.  It will be released on YouTube on 7th December 2012.

A host of public figures and celebrities have already tweeted their support for the message of the film including: Gary Barlow, Richard Branson, Holly Branson, Sam Branson, Alexandra Burke, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Mo Farah, Mia Farrow, Morgan Freeman, Eddie Izzard, Peter Jones, Ronan Keating, Dizzee Rascal, Lord Sugar and Kate Winslet.

CLEAR fully supports the message of ‘Breaking the Taboo’ which is consistent with our aim to end the prohibition of cannabis.  We argue that a responsible system of legal regulation would minimise all health and social harms, better protect children and undermine the influence of organised crime in our communities.

The present drugs policy of prohibition claims to be drug control, but it is no such thing. An effective drugs policy would mean controlling the trade in cannabis and other drugs, ensuring consistent and known strengths, high levels of purity and standardised doses. Real drug control means knowing who the dealers are, where they trade from and enforcing age restrictions.

Cannabis is an established part of British culture and has been for decades. Because of prohibition a multi-  billion pound industry has been gifted to organised crime. This uncontrolled trade reaches into every city, town and village in the land and employs thousands of people in the production and distribution of a product which government policy has been trying to eradicate for 40 years.

Peter Reynolds, leader of CLEAR, said:

“CLEAR is breaking the taboo each and every day and it is inspiring to see that so many notable public figures are finally having the courage to speak out about our disastrous drugs policy.  I think this could be the breakthrough we have been working for, when our political leaders will finally have to face up to dreadful job they have been doing for us and choose the path towards intelligent, evidence-based reform.”

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 07941 238908
press@clear-uk.org

Cannabis Law Reform, PO Box 674, Salfords, Redhill, Surrey RH1 9BN United Kingdom

News Release – CLEAR Is Breaking The Taboo - CLEAR UK: Cannabis Law Reform Party