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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Election Communication - Ipswich By-Election John Ramirez LCA Saturday 10 Nov 2001 I was born in 1964 to an English mother and a Guamanian father and have lived in Suffolk since early childhood. Educated in Ipswich at Saint Joseph's College where I explored the arts, my formative years were spent with endeavours in various musical projects that ran concurrent with training as an Adult Literacy tutor. In 1968, I moved to London and gained employment at Middlesex University as Music and Media Services Technician. In 1997, I returned to Ipswich to further pursue my career in the arts, contributing to several local theatre productions. I am now studying Performance Arts at Suffolk College, Ipswich, completing the first year with a Distinction in all modules. I live with Ginnie, my wife, a music tutor, and our eight-year-old son. He enjoys a family lifestyle that includes horse- riding and family membership at a local health club. I maintain my interest in performing and composing music in folk and electronic styles. JOHN RAMIREZ Your Legalise Cannabis Alliance candidate for ON NOVEMBER 22 As the Legalise Cannabis Alliance candidate for Ipswich, it is my intent to help dispel the false myths concerning cannabis. By educating people about the facts behind cannabis, the resourcefulness of the plant and it's associated by-products, we offer people the chance to make informed and rational decisions about it's usage. For 30 years, the population of this country have been subject to criminal law if found in possession of cannabis, which has been bundled into the same category as harmful and addictive drugs. The rationale behind this approach has been based on international political manipulation and misinformation. The Home Secretary's proposal to re-classify cannabis from a class B to a class C drug is a step in the right direction but fails to address the real issues, in that: - a person can still receive a criminal record for possession; - it does not remove the criminal element from the supply chain; - it denies the government access to considerable sums of taxable revenue. Cannabis users have to access criminal circles to buy their supplies. It is here that the potential risk of exposure to harder drugs lies. If the government were to license outlets to supply cannabis, they could create a legitimate source of taxable revenue whilst ensuring a consistent and quality-controlled supply that would remove cannabis users from contact with harder drugs. An estimated 5 million people use cannabis in this country the legal costs per annum for criminal action against these people is billions of pounds. That is a lot of money and it should be released to assist the police in fighting serious crime - If cannabis was made legal, then all the people who choose to take it for medicinal, relaxation or recreational purposes would no longer have to live their lives in constant fear. - If cannabis was made legal, the by- products could help sustain third world economies as well as boost our own. - If cannabis was made legal we would be addressing long-standing injustices and intolerance that exist in our society. An all-round commodity, cannabis can and has been used to produce rope, paper, plastics, textiles, fossil fuel replacements, food supplements, medicine and today more and more cannabis based products are becoming available through main retail outlets. As part of Britain's 'cannabis culture' my personal ethos is based upon holistic issues including the environment, sustainable living and alternative technology. I will also be offering support to the development of arts and culture in our town. If any of the above resonates with you, then use this by-election to show the country that cannabis users have a voice and that we intend to make it heard. VOTE JOHN RAMIREZ
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