09 Feb 2018

Victoria Atkins MP, The UK Drugs Minister, Opposes Drugs Regulation While Her Husband Grows 45 Acres of Cannabis Under Government Licence.

There are many examples of wilful ignorance, blind prejudice and bare faced dishonesty on drugs policy from many former and current MPs.  There is no one though who plumbs the depths of deception and hypocrisy as the new drugs minister Victoria Atkins. Her recent performance in the Westminster Hall debate on drug consumption rooms (DCR) was riddled with inaccuracies, distorted information and downright...

13:05 / Politics / Peter Reynolds
21 Likes
58 Comments
04 Feb 2018

Let’s Temper Hope For Paul Flynn’s Medical Cannabis Bill With Some Reality.

No one would like to see Paul Flynn's 'Elizabeth Brice' bill  to re-legalise medical cannabis pass through Parliament more than me.  Yet it concerns me that expectations are being raised way beyond what is realistic. There is widespread misunderstanding about what the bill is and what are its chances of getting any further. The Legalisation of Cannabis (Medicinal Purposes) Bill 2017–19 is a Private Member's Bill. It was  introduced to Parliament on Tuesday...

13:45 / Medicinal Campaign / Politics / Peter Reynolds
13 Likes
7 Comments
16 Oct 2017

A Cannabis ‘Protest’ That Was Well Judged.

This was the best ‘protest’ I have seen. The characterisation of it as a ‘cannabis tea party’ was clever and combining it with Paul Flynn’s 10 minute rule bill was a smart move. It was good that three MPs actually attended and the press coverage was extensive and largely positive. This is a welcome change from the disastrous demos and protests of the past which have undoubtedly hindered progress. So while I’m not exactly eating it, I take my hat off to...

10:01 / Medicinal Campaign / Politics / Peter Reynolds
19 Likes
0 Comments
25 Sep 2017

BBC Executive Complaints Unit, Stage 3 Complaint Re: Interview Claiming ‘Cannabis More Harmful Than Heroin’.

CLEAR has submitted a formal complaint to the BBC concerning its broadcast of the interview with Lousia Kulukundis in which she claimed that using heroin was safer than using cannabis. BBC complaints are outsourced to Capita and are not actually considered by the BBC itself until they reach Stage 3, the 'Executive Complaints Unit'. From: Peter Reynolds Sent: 22 September 2017 17:05 To: '[email protected]' <[email protected]> Subject: Request to review complaint CAS-4563673-ZNGCG0 Dear Sirs, 1. Please review the decision made in respect...

12:15 / Complaints & Representations / Politics / Peter Reynolds
16 Likes
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21 Sep 2017

Probably The Biggest Breakthrough Yet For Medicinal Cannabis In The UK.

UPDATE. Friday, 22nd September 2017.  The Royal College of General Practitioners Council today approved CLEAR's proposal to publish guidelines on medicinal cannabis. As ever, the UK's stubborn, anti-evidence government remains intransigent on permitting legal access to cannabis, even for medicinal use.  This despite an overwhelming tide of reform across the world and the reality that perhaps one...

11:03 / Medicinal Campaign / Medicine / News / Politics / Peter Reynolds
30 Likes
8 Comments
08 Aug 2017

The Shame Of Drugs Minster Sarah Newton MP.

Sarah Newton is MP for Truro and Falmouth. Since July 2016 she has been Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office. Her responsibilities include drugs and alcohol. During last month's drugs debate Mrs Newton caused uproar in the House of Commons when she said she "would not agree that alcohol is the most dangerous drug" and that "alcohol taken in moderation is not a harmful drug". Both these statements are, of course, directly contradicted by a vast quantity of scientific evidence...

16:22 / Politics / Peter Reynolds
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01 Aug 2017

UK Drugs Policy Equivalent To A Grenfell Tower Tragedy Every Fortnight, Yet Ministers Prescribe More Of the Same.

The scandal that is UK drugs policy deepened last month as the Home Office published what must be one of the most irresponsible government reports ever. The 2017 Drug Strategy adds nothing of any significance to the same document published in 2010. Since then, deaths from drug overdose have reached an all time high of 2,479 (latest 2015 data). There has been an explosion in highly toxic new psychoactive...

15:49 / Medicinal Campaign / Politics / Peter Reynolds
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0 Comments