A couple of articles in the local press (Norwich) covering the banning of CLCIA stalls by Norwich City Council as a result of complaints that seeds were given out to the public from the stall. The seeds were hemp seed fishing bait available from most fishing shops and pet shops.
As a result of a letter campaign by CLCIA and UKCIA members the ban was lifted soon afterwards with the proviso that nothing be distributed which could be used to use or produce an illegal substance. CLCIA now distributes cooked cannabis seed in several flavours.
This is an example of how the public's attention can be drawn to the hypocrisy of law in a way in which nobody gets hurt.
Evening News January 13 1997 : Editorial Opinion:
Campaign seeds:
The Campaign to Legalise Cannabis wants to argue from a platform of responsibility.
It is therefore unwise of them to hand out cannabis seed to the public from an information stall in the city.
It may not be illegal; but the cultivation of the seed is. However misguided some may feel it, the Campaign is fully entitled to demand changes in law - but it must respect current law completely.
-------------------------------------
Evening News January 13 1997 Article
Pro-cannabis group banned from city market.
Pro-cannabis campaigners have been banned from a Norwich market after handing out seeds of the illegal plant.
The Campaign to Legalise Cannabis International Association gave the seeds to people visiting an information stall.
And Norwich City Council has banned the organisation from the Haymarket after complaints from the public.
But the campaign - which plans to contest Norwich's two parliamentary seats at the General Election - is threatening a court injunction against the hiring of any council property by political groups.
A spokesman said "The CLCIA considers the refusal to hire the stall would put our candidates at a disadvantage".
The row follows a display by the group in December at the Haymarket.
Police received 10 complaints about the distribution of seeds.
Distributing cannabis seeds is not illegal - the question of legality only arises when they have grown into plants.
Helen Selleck, the council's community arts and events officer, said "We recognise this was not an illegal activity. "But they acted outside the terms of their contract. Some complaints suggested seeds were handed out to young people"
Norfolk police drugs education officer Richard Price said "Cannabis seed once grown is an illegal substance".
Evening News 20 January 1997: 3 Letters
1 This has to be a joke!
Dear Sir,
I read the Evening News article "Pro-cannabis group banned from city market" (Jan 13). Surely this is a joke?
The Norwich City Council and the police drugs education officer Richard Price, seem ignorant of the facts.
Richard Price said that "Cannabis seed once grown is an illegal substance". In fact, the seed is never an illegal substance and can be grown legally in the UK, under Home Office license. Also the cannabis plant is grown and has been for centuries, for paper, rope, cloth and medicine - these materials are not drugs, are pure cannabis and are not illegal. The seed itself has very many uses besides legal or illegal cultivation. It is an extremely valuable human food; much of the human race has survived by cooking the seed into gruel; it is sold locally as burger mix and health bars. It can also be used as a source of oils to produce fuel, paints, varnish, lacquers, lubricants etc. Henry Ford built his first Model T to run on cannabis seed oil. In Eire they grow cannabis to replace dwindling supplies of peat, as fuel. A remarkably diverse plant and a remarkable seed.
Helen Selleck of the council's arts and events section, said that seed was distributed to young people. In fact young people can buy the seed locally at Anglers' Supply Shops and Pet Food shops at less than £1 a kilo bag. Even a baby could eat kilos of it without harm, it is not in any way dangerous. Of course they would be committing an offence if they grew it without a license, but to ban the free distribution of seed from a stall providing information on the plant which grows from the seed and the seed itself, is nonsense. It's like banning free pamphlets in case some kid uses them to start a fire.
Wake up, those in authority, learn and tell the truth. What they did was harmless, free from danger, legal and honest. By banning the distribution of the seed you are merely revealing your ignorance of the facts. It is the truth which is important, not misguided opinion.
Please consider lifting your ban on hiring the stall to the Campaign to Legalise Cannabis.
Yours sincerely,
Alun Buffry
-----------------------------
2. No offence committed by group.
Sirs,
Just why did the city council ban the Legalise Cannabis party from holding their stall in the city?
The seeds they were handing out can be bought by the kilo, without any restrictions; they are perfectly legal and therefore no offence was committed.
Why is the city council acting like this? Could it be because the main political parties have dug themselves into a hole over this issue and are simply trying to censure debate?
Derek Williams
----------------------------------------------------
3. Why fears on sale of bird seed
City market ban on group highlights ignorance on cannabis
In response to your editorial article "Campaign Seeds" and the article "Pro-cannabis group banned from city market", may we say how shocked we were that anyone could become so upset by the distribution of fishing bait and bird seed.
Indeed the seed was purchased by the kilo from local angling shops and pet shops. It has not been uncommon for bags of cannabis seed to be sold in such places as Trafalgar Square, specifically for children to feed the birds. The seed is harmless if eaten by humans, even young ones; in fact it is highly nutritious and contains essential amino acids and protein.
If the seed is grown without a Home Office licence, it is an offence punishable by imprisonment. When we purchased the fishing bait there was no indication that the seed was fertile and no warning that it was illegal to grow it. There is also no limit on the age of the customer. Despite the fact that the cultivation of cannabis seed is an offence in law, it produces no harmful substances, even if smoked. This was confirmed by the medical journal The Lancet in December 1995 "The smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health".
So why the concern? There is no danger, it is not illegal; seed is available from many local shops. Public concern is unfounded. Officials and journalists who do nothing to allay these fears are part of the problem of misinformation and scare-mongering. The whole issue is symptomatic of the general ignorance about cannabis which we are battling to overcome.
You say, in your opinion, that the campaign "must respect current law completely". How can one advocate that a law is wrong and respect the law at the same time?
Jack Girling