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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Progress Report - August 2001
Alun Buffry LCA
Monday 03 Sep 2001 ACTIVITIES John Peacock (Workington) and Mark Gibson (Penrith & The Borders) attended a meeting with John's MP in Workington. Here is a brief report: John and I had a meeting with Tony Cunningham (Lab Workington) At his request today at Workington Town Hall. Duration 50 min. He was very receptive to our views on the legalisation of cannabis, but when questioned on his stance he said he favoured a review of the situation and would not be drawn one way or the other until he had the reports.(on side) On medicinal use, he was genuinely shocked and moved when I told him I had just spoken to a senior member of ******** social services with a view of supplying chocolate to several secondary progressive MS sufferers in their care. I stated that this should not be my job, but how can any compassionate human being refuse to help? We pointed out the inconsistency of the Lambeth scheme, i.e. recreational ok in London Medicinal in Cumbria still a crime?! Discussed the impurities of street cannabis, he had no idea that the majority of street hash is not cannabis. Explained why full legalisation is the only solution to combat the black-market and the associated crime. The meeting concluded with Tony saying he would have a discussion with some friends? and would we be interested in giving further help/ evidence to any further meetings. On being asked about the select committee report due oct, he said he would advise us to write to our own MP individually and explain your case, send a copy to the select committee, (then do the same collectively) we said yes, thank and we like forward to meeting again.(likable chap and they made us tea!) strange day! regards Mark Alun Buffry (Norwich South) wrote a 3,500 word article on the Prohibition of Cannabis, "Stupid Law, Doesn't Work!", for Spliff Magazine, a soon-to-be-published young person's monthly, based in Nottingham. August 12: Several LCA spokespersons and ex-candidates for the LCA attended the annual Smokey Bears Picnic on Southsea common. Neither weather nor police attitudes were on our side. When our first group arrived we saw about 60 young people sitting on the grass - this was about three-quarters of the way up the common, well away from the public. It looked a small crowd from a distance, scattered with the bright yellow coats of the police. As we approached, we realised that the police were standing in twos and threes, positioned amongst and around the people on the grass. The previous week the C Hampshire (Hempshire) Chief of Police had said that he was not going to tolerate the breaking of any laws and that he was against decriminalisation or legalisation of cannabis. What we saw was a direct result of that - clearly police were just waiting for someone to start smoking cannabis. It was MOST INTIMIDATING - even for us. We had gone to have a quiet picnic. We were told that there had been a wedding on the common and that the police had tried to arrest the groom when he tried to light a celebratory joint as a new husband. Later, we learnt that the man had evaded arrest by changing clothes and leaving the common, but that a dozen police had raided the home of the bride! Considering what is happening in Brixton in London, it seemed remarkable to suddenly see four police pounce on one poor lad who had started to smoke, escorting him away. The incidents were filmed by police video cameras and some press including CNN News. This continued to happen, throughout the afternoon. After several had been (sometimes dragged off) to the police vans in a couple of hundred yards away (there were about four vans and some cars), several members of the picnickers began to become disgruntled and saying that "we must do something to stop this, they'll drag us all off one at a time." Others said that they thought the object was to confront the law simply by smoking cannabis and, if necessary, fighting a case in Crown Court. But suddenly, with the arrest of a man who was giving a very large bong to another man who was sitting in his wheelchair - and the apparent imminent arrest of him also - many people in the crowd linked arms in a circle around the chair. The police were on the outside of the circle and did try to force their way through. To tell you the truth, it was not very difficult for them! Suddenly the whole crowd moved off away from me. I stayed with the bags, so I did not personally see what happened next, but there was a great deal of shouting and many more police had moved in. I realised that had we all been drinking, there would have been a riot. And doubtless it would have spread off the common. I was then told that Jerry Ham had been forced by police into the mud and carried off. He was later charged with obstructing the police and possession of cannabis. The picnickers and the police stayed around for a couple of hours as the wind grew and the air filled with more sea spray than smoke. Suddenly, now that the crowd had dwindled to about 30 or so, the police came and asked those with dogs to keep them on their leads as a "passive sniffer dog" was about to be brought through the crowd. After the cops had allowed the dog to sniff half the people in the crowd, walking and jumping over some of them, police left with no arrests, jumped in their vehicles and all drove off. Quite a few people in the crowd then produced ready-rolled joints and pipes were filled, and a short Smokey Bears picnic was held in the wind and in peace. My conclusion on the actions of the police that day are that they used excessive force in removing some of the young people from the ground, took little care when bringing the "passive" dog into the crowd, allowing it to walk over people, showed little respect to anyone, and used tactics of intimidation and silent threats of potential violence on the people present. Although the event had been advertised as a Smokey Bears Picnic (the organisers remain anonymous), not everyone was there to smoke cannabis. Some of us were there to have a quiet picnic and witness events. I believe the troubles resulted from the politically-biased views of the prohibitionist police bossman and that the presence of large numbers of police was unnecessary and a complete waste of public funds. Bad news: half a dozen arrests, several thefts of personal items and a bag. I cannot help but say that I have realised that not everyone who attends such events (like most events) is there simply to make a point. Some are there to make a profit and are prepared to rip off whatever they can from the very people who are trying to change the law on the cannabis they all share. August 15: Alun Buffry took the pro-legalisation side in a 15-minute debate on National Commercial Irish Radio. His opponent was the government minister with responsibility for drugs, Eoin Ryan, who admits that he used to smoke cannabis and that it did him no harm. August 16: Ann Marie did an interview with "Company Magazine". August ?: Lezley and Mark Gibson were interviewed by Radio Cumbria about the raid on Biz Ivol's house in Orkney. August 17: "Company Magazine" was referred to Katie Tuff (Hampshire) and Emma O'Neill (Halton), as ex-candidates for the LCA in the County Council elections in June 2001. August 20: Alun Buffry did an interview with Liza Granville from a new glossy magazine on Health and Leisure, called NFK, due for publication on Oct 1st.. August 28: Don Barnard (LCA PRESS OFFICER) took part in a long debate (Don had about 20 minutes) on Belfast City radio programme, "The Scene". The debate was the result of several recent drug-deaths of young people in Belfast (all involved alcohol.) Don described the debate as very enjoyable. August 29: The publication of The Public and Commercial Services Union requested a 700-word article on pro-legalisation. Alun has writen this. They will be trying to find someone to put the prohibitionists view. August 31: Alun Buffry produced a 300-word article on legalisation for West2, a quarterly published free magazine with a 16,000 per issue distribution in W2 and the surrounding areas, as requested . Hugh Robertson (LCA Treasurer) has accepted an invitation to speak at The Law Society, Dublin in Ireland on September 27. Mary Robinson is the main Vice President of Society. She is ex PM of Ire and currently UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Alun Buffry has accepted an invitation as first "Guest Speaker" in support of the motion: "This House will legalise cannabis", at the Oxford Union, on October 18th. Speakers have not yet been announced. Chris Philbin (Chelmsford) was on city radio Birmingham phone-in. Buster Nolan (Braintree) was on Radio Essex. Don Barnard did interviews about the "Smokey Bears' Picnic" (anonymous organisers) with the Essex Chronicle and the Colchester Evening Gazette, both or which resulted in published articles with quotes. PRESS and LETTERS During August 2001, the following articles about, or letters from, active LCA endorsees and candidates appeared in the press: http://www.buffry.connectfree.co.uk/ce100801.htm Don Barnard: 'Storm Brews Over Firms' Proposed New Drug Policy - Testing Plans Breach Human Rights', Colchester Evening Gazette, 10 August http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01.n1494.a07.html Linda Hendry: 'Police Ignore Cannabis Dealers In Attempt To Crack Down On Hard Drugs', Scotland on Sunday, 12 August Biz Ivol, who campaigns for cannabis to legalised for medicinal use, has had her home raided by police. The Orkney Islander said four officers from Kirkwall Police searched her house last Monday, and took away her cannabis plants, address book and computer. Biz Ivol: 'Wheelchair-bound Biz vows to fight on', The Orcadian, 16 August http://www.lca-uk.org/newsite/displayitem.php?articleid=388 Biz Ivol: 'MS Cannabis Campaigner Raided', BBC On-Line, 17 August. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01.n1463.a01.html Biz Ivol: 'Drug Police Raid Home Of Cannabis Sweets MS Woman', The Scotsman, 19 August. http://www.ukcia.org/newsite/new_news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=3517 Biz Ivol: 'Cottage industry', The Scotsman, 29 August Don Barnard: 'Cannabis party in the park', Essex Chronicle, 31 August Don Barnard: Park protest planned over cannabis laws", Colchester Evening Gazette, 31 August. COMING MONTHS 29th September, Cannabis Harvest Festival, Hyde Park, London, 12 noon, march leaves at 2 pm to rally in Trafalgar Square. Speakers include Alun Buffry, Caroline Coon, Paul Flynn MP, Mike Goodman, Howard Marks, Francis Wlikinson. 30th September, rally at Labour Party Conference in Brighton. 18th October, Oxford Union debate on legalisation. 18th - 29th October, cannabis films, speakers etc, in Huntington - for more details contact "Nick" 26th October, Private Members Bill on legalisation presented in House of Commons by Jon Owen Jones MP. Demonstration (provisional) outside Parliament calling for a free vote and public debate. Keep up-to-date with events at http://www.ccguide.org.uk/events.html LCA gained 38 new endorsees bringing the total to 1139 4U2 Do soon: Write to your MP asking him to support Jon Owen Jones's private members bill to legalise cannabis. Collect endorsements for the LCA. Collect signatures for the on-line petition, now numbering over 4,700. Pre-1937 Medical Cannabis Picture Museum web site: http://www.conquestdesign.com/uncler/index.html all the best Alun
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