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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Decriminalise - What does it mean? LCA LCA Press Release Friday 03 Aug 2001 The remit of The Select Committee on Home Affairs inquiry among other issues is to examine: whether decriminalisation is desirable and; if not, to discuss "practical alternatives". If you have not already covered this issue can I request you that you do so and encourage your readers to submit their own comments to the select committee. The Home Affairs Select Committee drugs enquiry is on the Home Affairs website: http://www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/hmapnt01.htm The membership of the Select Committee on Home Affairs, together with contact details, is available at the following address: http://www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/hmafhome.htm For a guide on how to submit evidence to a select committee. See; http://www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/witguide.htm Don Barnard, Press Officer for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance [A REGISTERED UK POLITICAL PARTY SEE EDITORS NOTES BELLOW] : said "As you will appreciate terminology has a lot to bear on the quality and relevance of submissions to the select committee. "For example; there seems to be some dubiety on what is meant by *decriminalisation*? "My understanding of the central feature of decriminalisation is that possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal consumption, sharing a joint and cultivation a specified number of plants for personal use [or for giving without exchange] ceases to be an a criminal act - all other forms of traffic or possession of large amounts remain illegal. "The aim of decriminalisation, in effect, is to is to remove the stigma of criminality from cannabis use by the individual, but at the same time prevents commercial exploitation. "Or are we talking about the *tolerance attitude* [frequently wrongly described as decriminalisation] as presently applied in the majority of European countries, where cannabis possession remains a criminal offence with minimum and maximum penalties on the statute but not enforced for minor offences. "Or does it mean something else." "I have written to the Select Committee to try to get a better understanding of their use of the word. [see copy below] "The Legalise Cannabis Alliance will be submitting evidence to the Select Committee and would encourage your readers to do the same. "Cannabis prohibition has failed and failed miserably it really is time for change. Kind regards Don Barnard Press Officer http://www.lca-uk.org NOTES FOR EDITORS: Web site: http://www.lca-uk.org The LCA became a political party in 1999 and has since supported candidates in local and parliamentary elections. In the 2001 General Election, 13 LCA candidates gained between 1.1 and 2.5% of the vote. Candidates gained as many as 7 per cent of the vote in the County Council elections. The Legalise Cannabis Alliance manifesto is "Cannabis: Legalise and Utilise" ISBN 0 9535693 0 6 Price 5 00 [including Postage] The LCA has over 1100 endorsements to their policies. LETTER SENT TO SELECT COMMITTEE: The Legalise Cannabis Alliance, PO Box 198, Norwich, NR2 2DH tel: 01376 324783 e mail: don.barnard@lineone.net Dear Sir Among other issues the remit of The Select Committee on Home Affairs inquiry entitled 'The Government's Drug Policy: Is It Working?' is to examine: "Whether decriminalisation is desirable [...]". As you will appreciate terminology has a lot to bear on the quality and relevance of submission to the select committee For example; there seems to be some dubiety on what is meant by *decriminalisation*? My understanding of the word is: The central feature of decriminalisation is that possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal consumption, sharing a joint and cultivation a specified number of plants for personal use [or for giving without exchange] ceases to be an a criminal act. All other forms of traffic or possession of large amounts remain illegal. IE; The aim of decriminalisation in effect is to is to remove the stigma of criminality from cannabis use by the individual, but at the same time prevents commercial exploitation. Or are we talking about the *tolerance attitude* [frequently wrongly described as decriminalisation] as applied in the vast majority of European countries. IE; Cannabis possession remains a criminal offence with minimum & maximum penalties on the statute but not enforced for minor offences or does it mean something else, Can you please clarify? Kind regards Don Barnard Press Officer http://www.lca-uk.org
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