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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Romsey
Derrick Large Election Communication
Wednesday 06 Jun 2001 Dear voter, Many of you will remember me from my campaign in last year's by-election! Following the success of last year, and a great deal of "grass-roots" support since, (thank you everyone) - I have decided to stand again! At first glance legalising cannabis may seem like a single issue. This is not so! It is an issue that affects society in many ways. It involves issues such as - law and order, health, education, trade, agriculture, the environment, and human rights. It is 30 years since the introduction of the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971). The law aimed to curtail a growing problem of drug use amongst young people. Britain has changed immensely since then. Nevertheless, we are stuck with a law that has failed in everything it set out to achieve. Most importantly, it has failed to prevent young people from coming into contact with illicit drugs, whether they attend an inner city comprehensive or a leading public school. In fact, cannabis and other illegal drugs have never been more freely available. The Law fails because little distinction is made between cannabis and socially destructive drugs such as heroin or crack cocaine. Government drug education campaigns lack credibility for this reason. The law has undeniably exacerbated drug-related problems. In many areas of this country, drug-related crime has reached intolerable levels. The driving force behind drug-related crime is the huge profits generated by the illegal status of banned drugs. The majority of these drug-related offences are caused by a small number of persistent hard drug users. Yet, the majority of those caught and charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act are non-problematic cannabis users. They are otherwise law-abiding members of society. More than 90,000 people were unfortunate enough to fall foul of this law in 1998. Police resources would be better used if cannabis users were separated from problematic hard drug use. Successive governments have responded to the growing "drugs crisis" without success. They have announced crackdowns on suppliers and users. They have proclaimed grandiose 10-year-plans. They have given government authorities unprecedented powers to snoop on the public. Nothing has worked. In fact, all attempts worldwide to prohibit cannabis use have proven ineffective. Many have discovered that cannabis can help relieve a wide variety of ailments. The Misuse of Drugs Act makes these people criminals. They are liable to arrest and face police raids on their homes. In some cases they are even imprisoned. Recent press reports have suggested that medical cannabis could be available in two years. However, this is not certain. In the meantime, anyone using this natural herb medicinally faces prosecution. This state of affairs is intolerable must end immediately. Even the respected House of Lords Science and Technology Committee recognises this as an "unsatisfactory situation." What do the main political parties have to offer? The Labour Government promised a more tolerant, more inclusive society. Yet they dismissed the Runciman Report into medicinal cannabis before it was even published. Ill people still face the threat of criminal proceedings. Hardly tolerant, nor inclusive! The Conservatives announced plans to punish every cannabis user with a £100 fine and a criminal record. This was quickly shelved after it was revealed that half of the shadow cabinet had used cannabis. Hardly informed leadership on the issue! The Liberal Democrats promise a Royal Commission into drugs. Every Government report has recommended a relaxation of the law concerning cannabis. All have been rejected out of hand or quietly shelved. Will the outcome of this report be any different? The main political parties have nothing to offer except a continuation of the same failed policies. It's time for a new realistic approach. It is NOW time to legalise cannabis! What would be the benefits of legalisation? Amongst others it will: - * Permit the industry to be monitored, regulated and taxed; * Restrict underage use and break any link with hard drugs; * Enable better use of existing police resources; * Allow the sick access to a cheap, natural, medicinal herb; * Encourage honest drug education and research. Legalising cannabis will benefit society! Vote Derrick Large X Legalise Cannabis Alliance
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