Friday, 16 October 2026
Thursday, 15 October 2026
Between Two Walls and And I Was There - reggae song with words by Alun Buffry
I laughed a lot and shed a tear,
Turning from dreaded fear,
Felt some anger, felt some joy,
Looking back to me the boy.
Never had an earthly wife,
Felt the bliss and felt the strife,
Yet for some I felt the Love,
Down below and up above.
Walked some roads,
Sailed on Norfolk’s Broads
Went underground,
And listened to nature’s sweet sounds.
I climbed some mountains,
Bathed in fountains,
Kissed the sky,
And got high.
Drank some wine and Holy Water,
When I thought I oughta,
Took some drugs,
Had some bumps and caught some bugs.
Gotten old and lost my teeth,
Daily seeking inner peace,
Slowing down upon the streets,
Look inside the thoughts to beat.
Life lies between two sturdy walls,
Listening as divine light me calls,
That breath keeps apart through grace,
As I rest within my space.
And find my peace right here
For which I feel such gratitude so dear
And find my joy right now
As to my breath I humbly bow.
And There I Was With no because.
I travelled on, to sing my song,
To soar up high, to seek and try
To find my Self, beyond earthly wealth,
Within inside, the changing tides,
Through cities close and distant lands,
Mountains, rivers, desert sands.
Towards life’s end,
My Tale I send,
And here within,
My Tale begins.
For there I was,
With no because.
Life lies between two sturdy walls,
Listening as divine light me calls,
That breath keeps apart through grace,
As I rest within my space.
And find my peace right here
For which I feel such gratitude so dear
And find my joy right now
As to my breath I humbly bow.
And find my peace right here
For which I feel such gratitude so dear
And find my joy right now
And to my breath I humbly bow.
And to my breath I humbly bow.
Monday, 12 October 2026
Saturday, 10 October 2026
UK: How UK cannabis laws have shifted since Alun Buffry first began campaigning?
UK: How UK cannabis laws have shifted since Alun Buffry first began campaigning?
Google
Saturday 10 Oct 2026
Since Alun Buffry and his contemporaries began campaigning in the early 1990s, the UK’s legal landscape for cannabis has shifted from absolute prohibition to a multi-tiered framework. While recreational use remains strictly illegal, the introduction of a thriving private medical market and changes in police enforcement represent massive departures from the era when Buffry faced a 10-year prison sentence.
The key legislative and enforcement shifts over the last few decades break down as follows:
1. The Medical Breakthrough (2018)
The most significant legislative shift occurred on 1 November 2018, when the UK government officially legalised cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs).
• The Change: Cannabis was moved from Schedule 1 (drugs with no perceived medical value) to Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations.
• The Reality: Specialist doctors (on the GMC Specialist Register) are legally allowed to prescribe cannabis for conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy, MS, and anxiety.
• The Modern Market: While NHS access remains incredibly restricted, the private medical cannabis market has exploded. Over the past year alone, private clinics in England issued nearly two million unlicensed medical cannabis prescriptions.
2. The Class B vs. Class C Yo-Yo (2004–2009)
During the height of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance’s political campaigns, the UK government experimented with reclassification under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971:
• 2004: The Labour government downgraded cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug, significantly lowering maximum penalties for possession.
• 2009: Following political pushback and media concern over high-potency "skunk," the government reversed its decision, moving cannabis back to Class B, where it remains.
3. De-escalation of Policing (Discretionary Enforcement)
When Buffry was arrested in 1992, police enforcement was severe and custodial sentences for cannabis offences were common. Today, while the letter of the law technically threatens up to 5 years in prison for possession, everyday policing has quietly shifted toward decriminalisation by stealth:
• Cannabis Warnings & PNDs: Police across the UK rely heavily on a tiered system for minor personal possession: a verbal "Cannabis Warning" for a first offence, a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) fine for a second, and arrest only on the third.
• Diversion Schemes: Many local police forces (such as those in Bristol, Thames Valley, and parts of London) operate formal "diversion schemes". If caught with small amounts, individuals are directed to educational or support programs rather than receiving a criminal record.
4. The Rise of the Legal CBD Market
Another massive shift since the 1990s is the emergence of consumer Cannabidiol (CBD). Provided a CBD product contains less than 0.2% THC and is sourced from approved industrial hemp, it is completely legal to buy over the counter in UK high streets, pharmacies, and supermarkets. This has effectively normalised the non-psychoactive commercial sale of the plant.
The Political Outlook
Despite high public support—with 56% of the British public backing some form of cannabis decriminalisation or legalisation—Westminster remains firmly opposed to adult recreational use. The Home Office consistently maintains it has "no intention" of full legalisation, choosing instead to protect the highly regulated medical
Alun Buffry is a prominent, long-standing UK cannabis activist, author, and political campaigner based in Norwich. He is widely recognised for co-founding the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA), a single-issue political party registered in the UK in 1999.
His involvement aligns directly with your previous question, as he is also a key figure behind the [Cannabis Campaigners' Guide (CCGUIDE)].
1. Activism & Political Career
• The LCA: After initially co-founding the Campaign to Legalise Cannabis International Association (CLCIA) in 1992, Buffry and other activists registered the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) as an official political party in 1999. He served as its National Coordinator and Nominating Officer.
• Electoral Campaigns: In the 2001 General Election, Buffry stood as a parliamentary candidate for the Norwich South constituency. He contested the seat against the then-Labour Home Secretary Charles Clarke, securing over 720 votes.
• High-Level Advocacy: Buffry has represented the cannabis law reform movement in major public and political arenas. He gave evidence directly to the Home Affairs Select Committee in Parliament and spoke at the Oxford Union.
2. Arrest and Imprisonment
In 1992, Buffry was sentenced to two concurrent ten-year prison sentences for conspiracy to import and supply cannabis. He served nearly five years across HMP Norwich, HMP Whitemoor, and HMP Blantyre House before being released on parole in 1995. He has frequently noted that his time in prison cemented his full-time dedication to reforming UK drug policies.
3. Writing and Later Life
Buffry is an author who has written extensively about his travels, his spiritual journey, and his activism. Some of his notable published books available on marketplaces like [Amazon UK] include:
• Out of Joint: Twenty Years Campaigning for Cannabis
• Time For Cannabis - The Prison Years: 1991-1995
• All About My Hat: The Hippy Trail 1972 (detailing his travels across Europe and Asia to India)
• Legalise and Utilise
He continues to be recognized as a veteran voice in retrospective discussions about the history of UK cannabis activism.
Alun Buffry's books cover a diverse range of topics, stemming from his cannabis legalisation campaigns, his experiences in prison, his spiritual journey, and his travels through India and Egypt.
The primary titles authored or published by Buffry include:
Cannabis Advocacy & Prison Memoirs
• Out of Joint: 20 Years of Campaigning for Cannabis – A chronicle combining his personal history with the backdrop of the UK cannabis law reform movement from 1991 to 2011.
• Time For Cannabis - The Prison Years: 1991 to 1995 – A direct memoir tracking his experiences serving concurrent sentences across several UK prisons.
• Legalise and Utilise – A focused look into the benefits, utilizes, and arguments surrounding the legalisation of cannabis and hemp.
• Damage and Humanity in Custody – Reflections on the prison infrastructure and the human cost of incarceration.
Travel Memoirs & Egyptology
• All About My Hat: The Hippy Trail 1972 – His most widely read travelogue detailing his overland trek from Europe through Asia to India.
• Heads, Hats and Tall Tales: Travels in India, Nepal and Egypt – Extended reflections on his eastern and African travels.
• Back To The East: India, Nepal, Kashmir – A deeper dive into his early Asian expeditions.
• From Dot to Cleopatra: A Concise History of Ancient Egypt – A historical survey born out of his frequent travels to Egypt and study of its monuments.
• My Hat in Egypt: Through the Eyes of a God – A fictionalised account blended with personal memories of his Egyptian journeys.
• Life on the Brim: The Autobiography of a Hat – A unique, creative perspective recounting his travels through the metaphorical "eyes" of his headwear.
Poetry, Philosophy & Spirituality
• THE UNSPELLING OF WORDS: Random Thoughts and Poems – A 2026 collection gathering fifty years of personal poetry, observations, and reflections on language.
• My Piece of Peace – A memoir highlighting his spiritual path following his receipt of "Self-Knowledge" techniques under Guru Maharaji (Prem Rawat).
• If Only Suomi
• The Effie Enigma: The Motherless Mothers
• An Alliance of Eyes
• The Autobiography of a Head
• And There I Was
(Note: Buffry has also published curated collections via ABeFree Publishing, featuring poetry and contributions from others, such as Words of Weed and Wisdom and Inside My Hat and Other Heads)
see also Alun Buffry's Bio
ABEFREE PUBLISHING SITE
What is CCGUIDE?
- The Cannabis News Service: It hosts an extensive news archive tracking UK cannabis-related articles, press releases, and published correspondence dating all the way back to 1991.
- Deep Political & Legal History: It is one of the best places to read up on the chronological history of cannabis prohibition, political lobbying, and policy debates in the UK.
- Research & Studies: The platform curates historical academic studies, source materials, and practical information regarding hemp and industrial uses.
Friday, 9 October 2026
Netherlands: Sole Dutch medicinal cannabis firm declared bankrupt
Netherlands: Sole Dutch medicinal cannabis firm declared bankrupt
NL Times
Friday 09 Oct 2026
Bedrocan, the Dutch medicinal cannabis grower, was declared bankrupt on Thursday after requesting a suspension of payments two weeks ago. The Veendam-based company is the sole supplier of medicinal cannabis in the Netherlands.
Bedrocan has been supplying medicinal cannabis since 2003 but ran into financial difficulties after the Ministry of Public Health terminated its contract with the grower earlier this year, Dagblad van het Noorden, RTV Noord, and the Volkskrant reported.
As a result, Bedrocan can no longer supply cannabis to the Office of Medicinal Cannabis (BMC), which manages the procurement and distribution of medicinal cannabis. This cannabis is used by people suffering from chronic pain and severe muscle spasms, as well as patients with cancer, MS, and epilepsy. Approximately 7,000 people in the Netherlands use medicinal cannabis prescribed by a doctor.
Bedrocan employs around 70 people. It is not yet clear whether the company will be able to make a restart or be acquired.
Bedrocan was founded in 1984 as an indoor grower of chicory, herbs, potted plants, and other crops. In the 1990s, the company shifted its focus to the development of medicinal cannabis. It currently produces five different cannabis varieties for the Netherlands and business clients in Denmark.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, there is sufficient time to find another supplier of medicinal cannabis, as current stocks are expected to last until roughly mid-2027. The contract was due to expire in 2025, and the government is currently conducting a European tender process to find a supplier of comparable products.
https://nltimes.nl/2026/10/09/sole-dutch-medicinal-cannabis-firm-declared-bankrupt
Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Misleading article in The Independent abour prescribed cannabis in the UK
Personal comment: the headline says warning to millions after the death of one person after taking prescription cannabis - not caused by cannabis.
One small detail says it all: " Mr Robinson, from Bury, died in 2023 after taking his own life.".
Whilst I have every sympathy with Mr Robinson's family and friends, this sad death is hardly justification to warn "millions" or change the law to create greater hurdles between all those that clearly benefit from this remarkable plant.
After all, consider the number of sad suicides that occur after alcohol consumption as well as accidental death and or injury, a substance that is easily purchased in any amount and legal to produce at home. Then there's the number of deaths, accidental and suicidal, caused by over consumption of prescribed pills.
UK: Experts issue medical cannabis warning to millions of Britons
Jane Kirby
The Independent
Wednesday 07 Oct 2026
Nearly two million unlicensed cannabis items were prescribed privately in England over the past 12 months according to new figures, prompting a warning over potential risks to patients.
England’s patient safety commissioner Professor Henrietta Hughes said that immediate measures are required to safeguard people purchasing medical cannabis on online platforms.
The statistics, published by the NHS Business Services Authority, track how often privately dispensed, unlicensed cannabis products featured on prescriptions across the country.
Between June 2025 and May this year, a total of 1,967,268 such items were issued, marking a significant increase compared to figures from earlier years.
Data recorded for 2024 showed 659,293 items dispensed, rising from 282,920 during the preceding 12-month period.
Cannabis flower accounted for three-quarters of the prescriptions issued in 2025/26, with the remainder consisting of liquid vape cartridges, gummies, drops and oils.
What does the law say?
A 2018 change in the law made it legal to prescribe cannabis-based products for medicinal use in the UK.
While a small number of patients can obtain the drug on the NHS, most of the products dispensed are unlicensed and prescribed by private clinics.
Medical cannabis is marketed as being able to treat a range of conditions, from anxiety, depression and ADHD, through to chronic pain, migraines and Crohn’s disease.
While a small number of patients can obtain the drug on the NHS, most of the products dispensed are unlicensed and prescribed by private clinics (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The drugs can only be prescribed by or under the direction of a doctor who is on the specialist register of the General Medical Council (GMC).
Prof Hughes said there was a need to tighten up the rules around prescribing and look out for people who could be harmed.
She said: “The growth of medicinal cannabis prescribing has outpaced the systems needed to ensure patient safety.
“This is not about whether these medicines should be available to patients who may benefit from them.
“It is about making sure the safeguards around prescribing are strong enough to identify risks early and prevent avoidable harm.”
Prof Hughes said the 2018 law change was “made with the intention that a small number of highly specialised doctors would be able to prescribe to a small cohort of patients”.
But prescription numbers have risen dramatically since then.
Death of Oliver Robinson
Earlier this year, Catherine McKenna, area coroner for Manchester North, wrote a prevention of future deaths report into the death of Oliver Robinson, 34.
Mr Robinson, from Bury, died in 2023 after taking his own life. A jury found this was “as a means of communicating distress rather than with an intention to end his life”.
The coroner’s report said he had a psychological dependence on cannabis, which he was obtaining both illegally and through prescription from the private clinic, Curaleaf, to treat depression.
In her letter, the coroner said “treatment options had not been exhausted at the time that medicinal cannabis was prescribed” and “Curaleaf’s initial prescribing decision was based on an out-of-date GP summary care record and without the knowledge” that Mr Robinson was also under the care of another consultant.
Oliver Robinson passed away in 2023 (PA)
Even when Curaleaf became aware, it did not communicate directly with the other doctors about Mr Robinson’s care, she said.
She added: “The continuation of prescriptions for medicinal cannabis acted as an obstacle to Oliver receiving appropriate psychiatric and addictions care.”
Mr Robinson’s brother, Alexander, is now calling for “Oliver’s Law” to tighten up regulation on prescribing medicinal cannabis, particularly to mental health patients.
Prof Hughes said she believed there was a need to look closely at prescribing and information-sharing.
“We have a siloed health system that is not working together effectively enough,” she said.
“Responsibility is spread across multiple organisations, creating gaps in information and oversight, where warning signs are missed and leaving patients at risk of harm.
“The immediate priority is to strengthen co-ordination between regulators and to ensure that remote prescribing is carried out to the same high standards of professional practice that we expect in clinical settings.
“We also need a more joined-up system that can identify emerging risks, monitor prescribing patterns and intervene earlier where patient safety concerns arise.
“Given the pace of growth in this market and the concerns that have already been raised, this work is urgent.
Medical cannabis is marketed as being able to treat a range of conditions, from anxiety, depression and ADHD, through to chronic pain, migraines and Crohn’s disease
“We shouldn’t wait for more people to experience avoidable harm to put stronger safeguards in place.”
Alexander Robinson said he agreed the “market was growing far faster than the safeguards meant to protect patients”.
He said: “Clinics are promoted on television, on the Underground and through social media influencers. Products are catalogued online like consumer goods.
“Oliver was prescribed high-strength cannabis after a single video consultation.
“I am not against access for patients who benefit. I am asking for the basic safeguards Oliver didn’t have: proper specialist assessment, contact with a patient’s existing doctors, monitoring for dependency, scrutiny of the highest-volume prescribers and clear rules on advertising.
“The patient safety commissioner is right that this is urgent. No other family should have to go through what we have.”
A spokesperson for Curaleaf Clinic said patient safety “is something we take extremely seriously”.
They added: “Medicinal cannabis prescribing is subject to established professional and regulatory standards, which we comply with in full.
“We have strengthened the clinical information available to our doctors and how we communicate with other healthcare teams, particularly mental health teams. As the sector evolves, we have the clinical processes in place to provide safe, high-quality care to our patients.
“We support better information-sharing and greater collaboration across the healthcare system to help ensure patients receive joined-up care.”
A Government spokesperson said: “As with any medicine, including unlicensed cannabis-based products prescribed for medicinal use, patients should follow the advice of their healthcare professional and the information provided with their medication.”
Professor Mike Barnes, chairman of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society, said it had developed its good practice guide “to provide a clear framework for safe, responsible prescribing, including thorough patient assessment, peer review, careful documentation, appropriate follow-up and clinician training – principles that align closely with the expectations set out by the Care Quality Commission”.
He added: “We are also encouraging clinics to demonstrate that these standards are embedded consistently across their services through our clinic commitment to good practice initiative.
“As the sector grows, it needs to mature with the same focus on governance, accountability and patient safety that we would expect in any other area of medicine.”