UK Cannabis News

UK Cannabis News: I do not know about the wording of the laws other countries but here in the UK the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 states that the possession, cultivation / production, supply of cannabis and cannabis products containing THC without licence is unlawful.

Many f us believe it is important to explain that it is the human activities that are supposedly “controlled” by law, not cannabis (or other specified substances / drugs) not cannabis itself.

Cannabis is a substance / plant and cannot be legal or illegal, criminalised or decriminalised.

Nevertheless, campaigners, journalists, MP’s and even the legal profession, continue to use words such as “legalise cannabis” or “cannabis is illegal”. We believe those phrases can dehumanise the legal situation. It is people that are punished by the courts.

Recently several prosecutions for possession (one for 1 ounce and 1 for 6 ounces) have been dropped by the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) after the Defence demanded that the CPS produce the “foundation evidence” upon which the inclusion of cannabis as a “controlled) and classified, scheduled drug in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and other legislation. The CPS, the ACMD (Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drug) and the Home Office has said that such evidence no longer exists. This may mean that many cases will be dropped.

OUTLAW of Manchester has put together a strong legal team and case to bring a Judicial Review on the Misuse of Drugs Act and its application, and raised the money for the case and surety against its failure. It is possible that the Judicial Review with rule against the Misuse of Drugs Act making future prosecutions unworkable and previous prosecutions and punishments unlawful as far back as 1971. The case may be due in court within weeks.

Meanwhile, there has ben an increase in private prescriptions through private companies that charge consultation fees, evidence of diagnosis and two previously proposed treatments, selling cannabis bud at prices ranging from £5 to £15 per gram. Many people are now receiving prescription cannabis though the post. This is in addition to Sativex which is supplied to a very limited number of people at charges through the NHS.

Another incentive is the “CanCard” which is sold under similar criteria to people that wish to use cannabis to treat their ailments but are unable to obtain it on prescription. These cards are sold at £30 each plus an annual renewal fee of £20 – hugely profitable for the producers of CanCard. They claim that production of the card at point of stop and search will persuade police to use their power of discretion and not arrest, and claim that many police forces are working within this incentive. But whilst people receiving cannabis legally through private or NHS prescription would not need the card, the card does not cover cultivation or supply.

The WTU (We The Undersigned) attempt to bring legal action against the Government over the abuse of Human Rights when the MODA is applied has come to a halt due to lack of funding – the legal advisor has stated that such a case may cost up to £150,000 and the Government may ask the court to demand a surety against failure of the case to cover Government costs of up to £250,000. Also waiting to see the Outcome of the Outlaw case.

https://www.outlaw.ltd/

https://www.wtuhq.org/

 https://ccguide.org/news/default.php

 

 

 

My comment on the article below

It's been quite some time since I read the sort of nonsense written here by H Woods. For starters he suggests that cannabis, a plant, should be classed alongside dangerous drugs such as heroin (and presumably he feels the same way as that highly dangerous and often addictive drug, alcohol, let alone the killer, tobacco).

It sounds a little like mixing sweets with tablets - many people may be tempted after taking a sweet to try a tablet if they are all in the same bag. Likewise, if cannabis was classed in law as of equal danger to heroin and cocaine, surely when person tries cannabis, which is easily found on almost any main street in the UK, discovering that it actually eases stress and pain, has the feel-good-factor, and for the very vast number of people has no bad effects, why not try another drug if they are all equally dangerous.

Woods says he has met cannabis users. Well, I am now 65 and have used cannabis off-and-on most of my adult life, and I have had no problems. I have met literally thousands of cannabis smokers in about 30 countries that I have travelled in and apart from the fact that some may be eccentric, they were all decent people. Of course dealers have led some from one illegal "drug" to another but that is no reason per se to punish either those that have taken other drugs or those that have not, unless of course they have harmed others. It would be like punishing all people that like a drink because of those that became alcoholics or became violent or abusive (something one does not see amongst cannabis users).

Woods goes on to label the millions of people in the UK that do take illegal drugs as in a stupor, and those that supply as "evil". Woods fails to recognise the damage caused by many over-the-counter medications such as aspirin that kills hundreds annually, or the medications dished out by doctors, many pills with serious side-effects (read the warnings on the packets - side-effects ranging from impotence to loss of appetite, inability to coordinate, sleeplessness, depression and even suicide). It is undeniable that many pills need to be taken with other pills to try to counteract those terrible and terrifying side-effects.

So what to do with those (whether in white coats or not) that supply those harmful and killer drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco, as well as pills?

Woods also denies the testimonies not just of people in the UK that claim to find relief to terrible illnesses and find that relief through consumption of the cannabis plant, albeit illegal, being forced to risk prison by growing their own or buying from illegal suppliers: people with MS, epilepsy, arthritis, damage from accidents or just plain stress; more recently those dying from cancers.

Woods fails to take into account that here in the UK, Sativex (which is simply cannabis dissolved in alcohol in an expensive oral spray form) is prescribed by doctors and supplied by pharmacies (it is exactly the same as can be made at home for own use by people that grow their own yet can be sent to prison). Fails to recognise that herbal cannabis is prescribed in countries such as Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy ... and more .. as a pharmaceutical plant-product called Bedrocan.

Woods ignores the dozens of reports from around the world that state cannabis has medicinal value and is comparatively safe ("remarkably safe" in the words of Harvard University Professor Grinspoon; safer than most common foods in the words of DEA Judge Francis Young).

Woods fails to recognise that the UK's own Government-appointed study group, the ACMD, has stated over the years that cannabis should NOT be classed alongside heroin or even class B drugs as it now is.

But most of all Woods has blundered by attempting to promote prohibition policy which has quite clearly not just failed but caused more damage to people's lives than the drugs themselves - even the United Nations Drugs team says that.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Legal-cannabis-Class/story-28030378-detail/story.html
Plymouth Herald, 22October 2015

Legal? No, cannabis should be a Class A

I READ in the Herald on October 10, cannabis campaigner in plea to MPs.
Daryl Sullivan has written to MPs for their help in legalising cannabis.
Cannabis like all drugs are bad, it should be a Class A drug as with all other drugs.
There has been proof that cannabis causes mental health problems, psychosis, schizophrenia and linked to suicides. It is not harmless at all and addictive. I have seen people on cannabis they were in a state of stupor.
Ninety nine percent of crime is drug related. Drugs and drug dealers are evil, we need to keep this vile damaging garbage off the streets. MPs say not to legalising cannabis.
H WOODS
Plymouth

Big results in war on drugs - claim police

Whilst I guess the people and the police deserve credit for taking dirty uncontrolled drugs and the criminal suppliers of the streets, I have to ask WHAT has this achieved in the long term?

I have read many reports similar to this, that police have taken considerable amounts of drugs off the streets, but it just does not seem to have any long-term benefits.

It's like there is an endless supply of these substances and an endless queue of people willing to step in and replace the dealers - the profits must be well worth the risk in their eyes. NO, we need to take afresh look at the drugs policy in this country - and remove it from the hands of unscrupulous suppliers who care little about quality and risk and a lot about their untaxable profits.

The present policy of leaving the production and supply in the hands of people like these dealers, we are exposing our people and their CHILDREN to them.

At least with alcohol and tobacco, there is a lower age limit - or the streets there's just a lower cash limit . The Government must introduce some system to get round this: the restrictions should depend upon the relative risk of the drugs including nicotine and tobacco - a good starting point.

According to a report from the American Medical Association that compared risk of addiction and toxic overdose, they put the drugs in this order - worst risk at the top tobacco, heroin cocaine, alcohol Caffeine, amphetamine cannabis E LSD Cannabis is third up, apparently, because although it is not addictive in itself and it is impossible to consume enough to kill, people find it hard to stop because they find it so medicinally beneficial and pleasant, often used on a daily basis.

So a system similar to Dutch Coffeeshops would be suggested for cannabis;
- something like adult shops for E and LSD
- sold from chemists for caffeine and "speed"
- sold from licenses premises for cocaine, like alcohol
- prescription only for heroin and nicotine

Of course it will need to be looked into properly, by scientists, and the Government will need to heed their advice

Big results in war on drugs:  Northants Eveing Telegrapg, January 14 2012

A TOWN’S ongoing war on drugs saw more than £12,000 of cocaine and cannabis seized last year.
Corby police officers carried out 53 search warrants in the borough in 2011, snaring £3,430 worth of cannabis, £9,150 worth of cocaine and 832 cannabis plants.
And they have praised the role of the public, who have tipped them off about suspicious behaviour on a number of occasions.
Officers also arrested 23 people for drug supplying and other connected offences.
And as a result of the warrants, officers also retrieved two stolen cars, one stolen motorbike and a stolen 37 inch television.
The statistics do not include a large consignment of Class A drugs seized from a light aircraft at Deenethorpe Airfield in July as this falls in the East Northamptonshire district.
Corby police commander Insp Gary Williams said: “This is really about highlighting the excellent proactivity of our Safer Community Team in Corby in tackling drugs in the community.
“The vast majority of warrants executed have come as a direct result of confidential information received from members of the community, and as a result of working with the wardens and caretakers, who are the eyes and ears of the community.”
Insp Williams said the results reinforced the police’s message on drugs.
He said: “I have said before that we are totally committed to tackling drugs in our community and we will always treat information in the strictest confidence and discretion and where possible, act on it as soon as possible.
“This is further improving confidence the community has in the police in Corby.”
Properties in Wick Close, Eastbrook, Gainsborough Road, Blenheim Walk, Greenhill Rise, Netherfield Grove, Hogarth Walk and Holbein Walk were among those targeted in drugs raids in 2011.