Thats actually pro-legalization. That documentary pointed out that keeping cannabis illegal will lead to more violent crimes.
Yeah i agree, i posted that before the programme was on. It was actually pritty good apart from some of the comments from the police.
This stupid Sativex bullshit has fucked everything up . It costs £500 per month . Wtf . Just grow your own for like a quarter of the price , blaze up and get the full effect , duh lol
Should totally be legalised in the UK, but i heard somewhere that ''the reason it won't be is because it hasnt before'' I know that sounds like a bit of asanine statement but it bascially follows that legalising it would undermine everything that each representative party (labour or conservative) as ever said before. The MP who proposed it would be ostracized by their party, as we have seen before, which frankly is disgusting. Keep posting these links though guys, im coming up on writing a degree dissertation on the economic effects of the legalisation of cannabis in the UK, and anything like this or financial reports will really help Peace, Fatnotslim
Nick clegg was on a debate show and said the war on drugs had failed and weed should be decriminalised
Does anyone else get sick and tired listening to all these faggot old age MP's talking about stuff they know nothing about. It's causes more problems being illegal, they can't even seem to look at the other side of the argument.
Is Britain Set for Its Very Own Cannabis Revolution? By Steve Sampson The US war on cannabis is over and there's no turning back, says US cannabis author Doug Fine as he prepares to take the stage at South Bank University. Fine is in London for the one-night UK leg of his world tour, spreading news of the "green economic revolution" currently spreading through the US, which is seeing certain states decriminalising, taxing and profiting from the marijuana industry. "My message is this," he says, smiling confidently, "if it can happen in the US, then it can happen here in the UK. There's no stopping this train now." That Fine is upbeat isn't particularly surprising. His book, Too High To Fail: Cannabis and the New Green Economic Revolution, provided a blueprint for America's nascent medicinal cannabis industry. He chronicled events in Mendocino County, California, where Sheriff Tom Allman was one of the first law enforcers in the US to sanction regulated, organic, eco-friendly cannabis cultivation, and – in doing so – temporarily saved his state from bankruptcy. But Fine also effectively called the market. Publishing his book as the US went to the polls in 2012, he predicted that the medicinal cannabis industry would blaze a trail through the US. Two years later, Fine's economic "green revolution" is taking hold; the medicinal cannabis industry straddles around 20 US states and is tipped to be worth $2.34 billion (£1.45 billion) a year in 2014, exceeding the $10 billion (£6.3 billion) mark by 2018 as legalisation spreads. A medical marijuana dispensary in San Francisco (Photo via) On stage, Fine tells his audience – comprised of academics, activists, students and journalists – about the potential of a "green rush" in the British Isles. "Look at what's happened in Portugal," he says, referring to the country relaxing its laws on the possession of any drug for personal consumption at the turn of the millennium. Fine's visit comes at a time when governments around the world are exploring new ways of approaching and exploiting cannabis. In early October, Uruguay's government announced that it would be the first country in the world to effectively nationalise the cannabis industry in a bid to undermine organised crime. In Europe last month, Romania legalised the use of cannabis derivatives for medicinal purposes and became the tenth country in Europe to recognise the legitimate medicinal uses of the drug, while Switzerland sanctioned possession for personal use. Meanwhile, in Britain, the surprise appointment of Lib Dem MP Norman Baker – a former advocate of cannabis reform – to the role of Home Office drugs tsar further buoyed hopes among UK cannabis campaigners that the green rush was lapping at Britain's shores. But could Fine's model for a regulated, organic, sustainable cannabis industry really take root in Britain? Calls from both the House of Commons and Lords late last year to revisit Britain's drug laws were promptly dismissed by one-time drug reformer, Prime Minister David Cameron. But they did spur Deputy PM Nick Clegg into ordering a review of international reform alternatives – likely looking at recent changes in America – which is expected to be published before Christmas. The arguments for reform made by Fine can easily be applied to the UK. On a local level, it's a no-brainer, but something that a number of politicians have explored in the past, only to end up hitting a brick wall. In April of 2012, when Green Party councillor Ben Duncan called for cannabis cafes to be licensed in Brighton, he echoed the calls of Brighton & Hove MP Caroline Lucas – and the city's chief superintendent, Graham Bartlett – for decriminalisation. But local powers don't stretch as far in the UK as they do in the States. West Midlands police dismantling a cannabis factory in Birmingham (Photo via) Nationally, the Institute for Social and Economic Research have claimed that Chancellor George Osborne could gain up to £1.25 billion a year in tax if weed was decriminalised. Others claim the figure would be much higher, with the Independent Drug Monitoring Unit estimating that its value could be as much as £6.7 billion per year based on current market prices. And according to drug reform trust the Beckley Foundation, Osborne would also benefit from cuts to the policing budget, suggesting that a shift to a regulated cannabis industry would save the Treasury between £200 to £300 million a year. However, experience tells us that the financial benefits might be enough. Britain has a long history of politicians posturing about relaxing cannabis laws when at the fringes of the Westminster Village, before reneging on that stance once they're safely holed up in positions of power (Cameron is a perfect example). And despite the liberalisation of laws in the US at state level, the US federal government's commitment to both the War on Drugs and the international agreements that bind world powers to prohibition, means that Britain's politicians couldn't currently deliver Fine's solution, even if they wanted to. Unless, of course, a UK prime minister is willing to unilaterally withdraw from its global obligations and risk upsetting our special relationship and trade agreements with the US. Leading criminologist and cannabis expert Gary Potter, who is currently undertaking a review of cannabis policies in Holland, Spain and the US at South Bank University, explained how UK policymakers are boxed in when it comes to revisiting the laws around cannabis use and cultivation. "Under current global drug regulations, Britain's policymakers are bound over what they can do," he says. "The UK doesn't have the enshrined constitutional rights seen in countries like Spain that could override its international commitments. UK policymakers are limited to changing the status of cannabis use, which could be decriminalised. But cultivation, like trafficking, must remain illegal." As such, any reform would still leave supply in the hands of criminals, nipping all hopes of a "green economic revolution" in the bud. A cannabis law reform protester in Edinburgh (Photo via) However, many cannabis campaigners, including Fine, believe that the next step for the US will be to reset the international landscape for cannabis laws, ushering in an era of reform and allowing the British government to act independently. But the hurdles don't stop there; the biggest challenge in Britain is winning the stigma war, say UK reformers. Rupert George is the head of communications for Release, an organisation that lobbies for drug laws to be based on public health issues rather than criminal justice. Last month, he told the Stop the Drug War campaign group: "There is far more entrenched 'reefer madness' [in the UK] than in the US, with the dominant issue being about psychosis. The idea of a regulated drug market for cannabis, or any other drug, is politically a long way away." A decent example of the power of reefer madness – and the power of a parliament to sweep aside rational debate – occurred just one week before Fine landed in Britain. A private members' motion put forward by Luke "Ming" Flanagan in the Dáil – the Irish parliament – on the regulation of cannabis was defeated by 111 votes to eight. The first step towards winning the stigma war, say activists, is rebranding the cannabis industry. Campaign group NORMLUK is pragmatic about the challenge they face. Instrumental in bringing Fine to London, the group's current goal is resetting the image of the medicinal cannabis industry in Britain – giving it a coherent voice, objectives and gaining the support of the public and the trust of police and politicians. A photo from NORML's website "We hope that what's happening in the US will prompt the government to look at what's happening in other countries more seriously, and that Doug's story will inspire the public and law enforcement alike to look at this issue in a different light," says NORML spokesman Deej Sullivan. "For too long drug policy in this country has focused on punishing individuals for their drug use, which has led to a breakdown in the relationship between normal, law-abiding people and the people who are supposed to protect them – the police." How the US moves forward will dictate change around the globe. However, a new generation of UK activists are looking to Europe's grass-roots cannabis social clubs for ways to tackle reform at home. The goal with the clubs is to bring together local networks of pro-weed activists who exploit legal loopholes that permit personal use and cultivation, thus allowing them to develop supply networks that operate within the law. Eventually, they hope that the European federation of clubs will form the foundation of a future industry. Michel Degens, the founder of Belgium's second cannabis social club, Mambo, described how the European cannabis community was rebranding itself. "We want to emulate what has happened in the US," he says. "And to do that we have to present ourselves as a mainstream business […] We want to pay tax and be regulated, and to do that we have to show that the industry had grown up and that we're not criminals. If we have to start small, so be it – this is only going to grow." The federation has already forged links in the UK. With almost 40,000 Likes on Facebook, the London Cannabis Club (LCC) – established in 2011 – is gaining traction. Using social networking, LCC gathered around 10,000 cannabis activists to call for reform in Hyde Park at this April's 4/20 gathering, a number far beyond the expectations of organisers or police. The LCC's April demonstration in Hyde Park Operating under the name of Orson Boon, the administrator of the LCC is the new face of the UK cannabis community – a young, smartly dressed professional who believes potential public support for change is only beginning to be tapped. "What we're doing is making links between communities – that, for the past decade, have operated beneath the radar – to [establish] a public voice. We are not criminals. In every other aspect of my life I am a respected, law-abiding professional, and there are tens of thousands of people in a similar situation. If politicians can't find a solution, then we will work to find one. We believe there is the public support for change." Despite the challenges ahead in the UK, Fine remains optimistic that the "future for the medicinal cannabis industry in the UK is bright". Having predicted the US green rush in 2012, he says that America is now on a trajectory that cannot be reversed, and suggests that the global weariness with the war on cannabis will eventually see the industry accepted around the world. But for UK cannabis activists, the reality is that the watershed moment is unlikely to come until the US decides to end its war on cannabis at an international level. And whatever's proposed in Nick Clegg's festive drugs review, the UK's war on cannabis isn't going to be over by Christmas.
I've never voted for anybody before because they all do whatever the fuck the want anyway; but I've never seen any party mention anything about weed; is cleggy on our side??? If so he gets my first vote!!! Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
'Remarkably successful' Foleshill cannabis grower spared jail 25 Nov 2013 07:58 Court accepts Shelley Mason grew £27k worth of cannabis for himself and two friends <a class=""></a> <div><span>Share on print</span> <span>Share on email</span><div> </div></div> Cannabis factory A ‘remarkably successful' cannabis grower produced a crop which would have had a street value of more than £27,000, a court has been told. But Shelley Mason was given a 12-month suspended sentence after the prosecution at the crown court in Leamington accepted he was growing it for himself and two friends. Mason, aged 24, of Leicester Causeway, Foleshill, Coventry, who had pleaded guilty to producing cannabis, was also ordered to take part in a six-month drug rehabilitation programme and an electronically tagged 8.30pm to 2am curfew for three months. Prosecutor Mohammed Hafeez said that in April the police raided a privately-rented two bed house in Mulliner Street, Stoke, Coventry, where Mason was living with his mother. When the officers arrived Mason's mother, who also has alcohol and drug-related difficulties, was there with her partner and a grandson. They found a black tent in the front bedroom containing 26 small cannabis plants about six inches tall, a mature ‘mother plant,' and 45 healthy cuttings. In the rear bedroom was a sophisticated small cannabis factory with eight high-voltage lights, fans and a ventilation system, and the electricity meter had been by-passed to power the ‘fairly professional set-up'. There were 19 plants about 30 inches tall, which were just one or two weeks from full maturity – and each plant would have produced 146 grams of cannabis. Mr Hafeez said the whole crop would have yielded 2.77 kilos of cannabis with a street value of £27,700 – with the potential for three crops a year. When Mason arrived he immediately admitted responsibility, claiming he had a cannabis habit which cost £70-100 a day. John Brotherton, defending, said: “He says it was the first time he had grown cannabis. He was remarkably successful, getting three times the amount one would normally expect from a plant.†He said Mason had developed a ‘significant' habit since he started using the drug at the age of 11, but added: “He has found himself a job – he has two children and a partner, and knows he needs to be supporting them and not his cannabis habit.†Judge Richard Griffith-Jones told Mason he would ‘give him a chance' because he had no previous convictions for drugs, and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
because weed makes you realize the lies the government has been feeding us like the eagle in disguise, and that's why the government reacts so hard, to keep the weed from the truth so far. PSN: Biotoxity (If you want to add me that is)
She Still did well Nigella Lawson took cocaine, cannabis and prescription drugs every day for 10 years, court told <div><div><div><div><div><div> </div> 1 / 2 </div> <div> </div><div>Judge Robin Johnson read out an email sent from Saatchi to his former wife Nigella Lawson Getty Images </div> </div></div></div></div> Judge reads email from former husband Charles Saatchi: She was 'off [her] head on drugs' <div><div>Kunal Dutta Tuesday 26 November 2013 </div></div><div><div><div><div><div> 403</div></div></div><div>Print <div style="margin:0px;"><div>Your friend's email address Your email address Note: We do not store your email address(es) but your IP address will be logged to prevent abuse of this feature. Please read our Legal Terms & Policies </div>A A A Email </div></div></div></div><div>Nigella Lawson, the TV chef and self-styled “domestic goddessâ€, had a chronic drug habit and secretly used cocaine, cannabis and prescription pills “daily†for more than a decade, a court has heard. Ads by Google You May Be Owed £2400 If You've Ever Had A Bank Loan. Your Bank Could Owe You A Refund RBS.BankRefunds.net 75% Off Double Glazing Savings On All uPVC Windows Get a Free Local Quote Now! www.QuoteMeLocal.co.uk Find a Solicitor Skilled Solicitor in Your Area. Local Knowledge, Reliable Service. thompsonandco-solicitors.co.uk <div>As the very public disintegration of her marriage to the tycoon Charles Saatchi returned to the spotlight, the allegations were made by lawyers defending two Italian sisters, Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, who worked as assistants to the couple in their London family home. The pair are accused of defrauding Ms Lawson and Mr Saatchi – who divorced in July, ending a 10-year marriage – of more more than £300,000 while working as their assistants. But according to the assistants' testimony, Ms Lawson had a verbal understanding with the Grillos that they could use Mr Saatchi's company credit card for their personal use in return for keeping quiet about her drug use. The drug claims first emerged in a pre-court trial hearing on the 15 November when Anthony Metzer, representing Elisabetta Grillo, took the unusual step of lodging a “bad character application†in order to question Ms Lawson's reliability as a witness for the prosecution. Mr Metzer told Isleworth Crown Court in west London the application “relates to Miss Lawson's alleged taking of class A and class B drugs and her unauthorised use of prescription drugs†and that it was kept as a “guilty secret†from her husband. “She did not want him to know about her use, particularly of cocaine. Because the defendants were fully aware of her illicit drug use, she consented to their expenditure on the understanding there would be no disclosure to her husband of her drug usage,†he said. Jane Carpenter, for the prosecution, said: “This is a totally scurrilous account which has been raised by the defence, and the timing is no coincidence at all.†She said that despite being arrested more than a year ago and charged in March, the sisters only made the drug allegations to the court earlier this month. The claims were made public yesterday, however, when Judge Robin Johnson decided they were admissible in court. The judge read out an email sent from Mr Saatchi to his former wife in which he described her as "Higella" and claimed Ms Lawson was “so off [her] head on drugs†that she failed to monitor their spending patterns. “Of course now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you [and] Mimi [her daughter] were so off your heads on drugs that you allowed the sisters to spend whatever they liked and yes I believe every word they have said,†the email read. The judge told the court that Mr Saatchi said: “At the time of sending the email I was completely astounded by the scale of drug use set out in the statements [from the defendants]. Nevertheless I did believe the allegations that I'm referring to in the email.†Judge Johnson said the allegations by Mr Saatchi were some of the many communications since the “unhappy events surrounding the witnesses' divorce this summerâ€. The pair broke up after pictures were published in a newspaper in June showing the art dealer holding his wife by the throat. The incident, was dismissed by Mr Saatchi as nothing more than “a playful tiff†but he later accepted a police caution for assault. </div></div>
Coalition split on cannabis legalisation as Chris Grayling slaps down new Lib Dem minister 28 Nov 2013 15:49 Tory MP rejected suggestions from new minister for drugs Norman Baker that legalisation of cannabis 'should be considered' Share on print Share on email Justice Secretary Chris Grayling Justice Secretary Chris Grayling A coalition split on drugs policy has emerged after Conservative frontbencher Chris Grayling slapped down a newly-installed Liberal Democrat minister for suggesting legalisation of cannabis “should be consideredâ€. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said during a visit to Wales that he rejected comments made by crime prevention minister Norman Baker, who was only appointed to the Home Office last month after a reshuffle, which suggested a relaxation of laws around cannabis could be considered. Mr Baker, who is responsible for drugs policy, made the remarks to the Home Affairs Select Committee this week, which was quizzing him on his views on drugs. Asked by Newport West MP Paul Flynn if he still believed in legalising cannabis, Mr Baker replied: “It should be considered along with anything else. That's not my prime objective and I'm not advocating it at this particular moment. “What I'm saying is there is a study on, an international comparative study, which is designed to look at all aspects of drug treatment, of drug policy, across various countries and we will follow the evidence and see where it takes us.†Mr Baker has previously said cannabis is “no more harmful than alcohol or tobacco†and has urged resources to be channelled into tackling hard drugs. He told the committee he supported the Home Office strategy to reduce demand for drugs, restrict supply and support addicts. “The question is how do we get to those three objectives and maximise the return,†he added. “I'm determined to say as I always have been to follow the evidence. Sometimes that's easy, sometimes it takes you to difficult places.†Cannabis is a Class B drug, meaning prosecution for possession can lead to five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both, and conviction for supply or production of the drug can lead to up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. It was upgraded from a Class C drug in 2009. But during a visit to Cardiff, Tory MP Mr Grayling told WalesOnline: “I've always taken the view that the medical reasons for not going down that road are pretty compelling. “I've talked to many doctors over the years who have highlighted the links between cannabis use and mental health problems. “I think the argument is...against legalisation, so I don't agree with Norman on that. “I won't be considering it. It is, in fact, the Home Office who leads on drugs policy - but I don't support legalisation of cannabis.†The row came as the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) recommended a former “legal high†should be banned permanently as a Class A substance - meaning dealers could face life in prison. NBOMe was subjected to a temporary ban in June, making it illegal for at least 12 months, while further evidence on its impact was gathered. It recommended compounds of the drug, seen as an alternative to the hallucinogen LSD, are controlled as Class A substances - the most serious category with possession punishable by a jail term of up to seven years. In addition, the ACMD has recommended that another former legal high subjected to a temporary ban, BenzoFury, once marketed as a legal form of ecstasy, is controlled as a Class B substance. Earlier this year, psychology graduate Jennifer Whiteley, 27, died after she took “bombs†of BenzoFury at her family home. BenzoFury is often sold as powder or as tablets, known as pellets, with powder sold at £35 a gram and pellets £10 each.
in response to the NZ legalization story, that is really the sane approach, but its not their idea per se. back in 1989 a Dr. Ronald K Siegel published "Intoxication, life in pursuit of artificial paradise". 0-525-24764-5 You may remember the name (well us older guys perhaps) used in conjunction with the word "psychonauts" and the UCLA LSD experiments, yep thats him. anyway, if there is one guy who knows what he is talking about when it comes to intoxicants, it is him. to summarize his conclusions: it will be through the mastery of designer chemistry that we will do better and achieve a society free of drug abuse...in essence we can build better safer drugs. and if drug use is indeed part of our evolutionary path, better to take the reigns and guide that evolution thoughtfully. "To say No is to deny all that we are and all that we could be" Ronald K Siegel PhD I highly recommend any of his works. takes an evolved perspective. Sent from my iPad using Grasscity Forum mob
The most heartwarming sign of change is this Ipsos MORI poll showing 53% support for decriminalisation or legalisation. http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3134/Public-attitudes-to-drugs-policy.aspx Surprisingly, even Daily Mail readers polled at 46% in favour. We have a majority, but getting lawmakers on board won't be easy. LibDems are the only politicians willing to take a stand on this, so vote! vote! vote! It's hard to imagine them getting a majority, but at least in coalition they have a voice. If you really want it to happen, tell all your friends to get off their couches and register to vote in next year's election. I'm not optimistic, but I'm starting to talk it up to everyone who will listen.
There's also a problem with medical use because they don't want NHS to pay for it. Not sure what the deal is with GW Pharmaceuticals though. clear-uk seem to think it's corrupt in some way. "Most CCGs refuse to provide Sativex because it is so expensive. A month's prescription of Sativex costs the NHS £560.00. The equivalent from [Dutch government producer] Bedrocan costs between £35.00 and £105.00 depending on which product is prescribed."
It's from September, but I just noticed this depressing story on the Beeb today. "The UK has become the drug and alcohol "addictions capital of Europe", a think tank has warned." Blah blah ... heroin ... alcohol ... websites peddling dangerous "legal highs" ... blah blah Who's going to legalize cannabis in an atmosphere of panic like this ? Nevermind that it's safer than any of that stuff. sigh
Mail not happy shame http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2521788/Uruguay-legalises-sale-production-cannabis.html
lucky bastards Uruguay! Although I heard they where violating international law, which might be a glitch in their great plan