|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
Politics and Cannabis
Don Barnard Press Release
Saturday 17 Apr 2004 "I am fed up with trying to get politicians to change the law" ... said Alun Buffry, National Coordinator of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA). "It's time to change the politicians." The Legalise Cannabis Alliance (a registered UK political party) www.lca-uk.org are seeking "local people" to stand as candidates for local and general elections throughout the UK. Legalise Cannabis Alliance intend to contest seats in local council elections on June 10. We also hope (with your help) to contest over 100 seats at the next general election, which will entitle us to a Party Political Broadcast on TV. List of declared candidates contact details [1] The Legalise Cannabis Alliance became a registered UK political party in 1999 and fought 13 seats in the last general election - The aim was to bring the laws on cannabis into mainstream politics. [2] "No one can deny we have done that." said Mr Buffry, "Even the Tories asked for our views on their drug policy." [3] Aspiring candidates over the age of 21 (June 2005) who are interested in becoming active in politics, should consider applying to become a candidate with the LCA," said Mr Buffry, "irrespective of their other policies." So, is this all a pipe dream? Michael Mullaney, author of "Prospects For The Legalise Cannabis Alliance" and transfer from the Labour Party, thinks not. He reckons that: "The results that the LCA obtained at the 2001 General Election indicate that a single-issue party, advocating the legalisation of cannabis can win a significant number of votes." [4] The average votes obtained by LCA candidates in 2001 were, by historical standards, high for a minor party (being higher than that obtained by candidates of other minor parties); such as Arthur Scargill's Socialist Labour Party, which had received more publicity than the LCA. - Election Results [5] Mr Mullaney continued: "Voters are increasingly prepared to support single-issue parties and research suggests that there is a possibility, that the LCA could win a large number of votes at the next general election. adding.."If this were to happen it would obviously be a major boost to the cause of cannabis legalisation." THE ENVIRONMENT is high on the agenda also. the Alliance firmly believe that with a seat in parliament they could seriously change the environment for the better. They believe that cannabis could be a saviour to the environment as we know it. Buster Nolan LCA candidate for Braintree [*third time*] said: "The LCA supports the legalisation of the cannabis plant for all people for all uses, having taken on the leaf as the logo we should be singing the wonders of the plant that really can change the planet. "Big business and governments are getting away with raping our planet as we sit around arguing if we can have a smoke or not, of course we should have a smoke if we want to, most of us do! whatever the law says!. Its time we made the agenda and they have to answer to us. "Coffee shops and joints are just one of the wonderful aspects of the plant...My passion to try and stop the destruction of our planet and everything on it is still high on our agenda". Legalise Cannabis Alliance candidates can stand for local issues that they believe important for the well-being of the area they live in. and, should they reach a seat in parliament, they will be voicing the opinions of their townsfolk "The LCA will help people in their missions locally," said Alun Buffry. He added: "The LCA remains a single-issue party, which means that no single candidate has to take on any other candidate's personal beliefs. That's something that no other party can guarantee you at the moment". Anyone wishing to have a Cannabis Party in their town, should contact the Legalise Cannabis Alliance [6]. And/Or, show their support by endorsing Legalise Cannabis Alliance; principles, aims and proposals [7] A Challenge: The LCA has also issued a Challenge to the Criminal Justice System to Justify, the law that allows for putting someone in prison for cannabis only offences [8] Abstract: To date, in a debate that asks whether cannabis use ought to be decriminalised or legalised, those who support current policies need not utter a single word in its defence. They can simply sit back and wait for their opponents to make predictions, and then challenge the accuracy of those predictions =AD WHY IS THIS? We believe this debate cannot proceed sensibly unless it begins with reasons in favour of punishing people who use cannabis. GOVERNMENT MUST JUSTIFY THE LAW! Don Barnard Press Officer pressoffice@lca-uk.org phone: 07984 255015 --------------------------- Editors notes: 1: Candidate list with contact details http://www.lca-uk.org/prospects.php 2: Introducing The Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org/intro.php. 3: Conservatives Question/LCA response: http://www.lca-uk.org/conservatives.php 4: Prospects For The Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org/prospects.php 5: Election Results: http://www.lca-uk.org/electionresults.php 6: phone: 01603 442215. email: lca@lc-uk.org write: LCA, PO Box 198, Norfolk NR3 3WB 7: Endorsing principles, aims and proposals http://www.lca-uk.org/endorse.php 8: CHALLENGING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM http://www.lca-uk.org/challenge.php 9: More information can be obtained on the Party web site at http://www.lca-uk.org
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!