Cannabis factory found in Lewisham Holly Tree pub (From This Is Local London)

Are we so stupid in Britain that we cannot learn the lessons of history? If we prohibit something for which there is huge demand then the price rises and violent criminals become involved.

If we introduced a legally regulated system we would solve nearly all the problems around cannabis. Science proves how much safer it is than tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines and all other recreational drugs. The evidence is that where legal regulation is introduced, consumption by children and all health and social harms are reduced.

Doctors would be able to prescribe one of the most effective medicines that has no serious side effects at all. At the moment the government has given GW Pharmaceuticals an illegal monopoly on cannabis so they make millions out of a medicine that you can grow in your greenhouse for virtually nothing.

Independent, expert research also indicates that a tax and regulate policy on cannabis would produce a net gain to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion pa.

Our present policy on cannabis is irrational, irresponsible and dangerous. On 6th November 2012 Colorado and Washington state legalised cannabis for adults, Surely, this inevitable and long overdue reform will now begin to roll out across the world?

Prohibition does not make cannabis vanish, disallowing legal regulation simply gifts the control to the only people in society willing to risk freedom for easy fast cash, criminals. See cannabis has been grown, sold and smoked for over 10,000 years non problematically. It has only become a problem since prohibition and 'reefermadnesspropag
anda' indoctrinating a generation of well intentioned people.

Why is prohibition such a problem? Well, children find cannabis easier to obtain than alcohol and tobacco (dealers dont ask for ID) Children are being enticed by the gangsterism cannabis prohibition has helped create, and kids are lured into organized crime. Cannabis being illegal glamorizes it in the eyes of the young rebel. Dealers only sell the stronger strains. Dealers get involved in theft of electricity, human trafficking, gang violence. The list does go on...

Why is legal regulation the only way forward? Well its the only logical step if reducing harm and associated crime is your agenda. Education, prevention and therapy isnt just cheaper than prohibition and incarceration, its much more effective. Many lies have been told about cannabis, and the results from studies done are as schizophrenic as the average prohibitionist.

Time for a change, time to take control away from organized crime, or at least try to. Because prohibition is a ineffective, dangerous, irresponsible economically draining exercise which is undoubtedly causing more harm than good

If pubs are struggling let them open as cannabis cafes. No fights, no A&E madness, good profits, happy atmosphere, hungry customers, healthy customers and an environment which will control access to minors. Unlike now when cannabis is far easier to obtain than alcohol for under 18s.

The UK government, the police and the courts need to open their eyes to the fact that a majority of the British electorate is opposed to the senseless prohibition of cannabis.

This prohibition is a waste of our taxes. The Conservatives are closing hospital wards, police stations and have tripled the cost of university education, yet still find the funds to prosecute and jail cannabis consumers who are non-violent and harmless to others.

gcmercier says non-violent and harmless to others.YOU KIDDING,what are the drug gangs fighting over,tiddly winks.jeez some people.

If Cannabis was actually regulated in a controlled manner this would not be happening. There would not be huge expenses wasted by the criminal justice system, the Police and probation services. The profits would not go to criminals - it would be available to spend on the health system which has been under pressure for a long time financially and releasing these systems of this financial burden of controlling Cannabis, to dealing with actual criminals in our communities. Unsurprisingly, it reaps the benefits and profits, and creating more crime and more criminal control over ordinary people.

What part of this does the Government not understand? Not including the fact that the vast majority of Cannabis smokers are responsible citizens who work and pay their taxes, the prohibition this country suffers from creates a cycle of destruction for most vulnerable young people who wind up with a criminal record for the rest of their lives. This excludes them from future employment by many employers and sectors forever. Many turn to criminality.

All this over a plant with amazing medicinal values. Can anyone realistically justify this?

James
Media Team
CLEAR – Cannabis Law Reform

Sorry James, but Cannabis will never be legalised or regulated, so I suggest you do something more important with your time……I know someone in HR at Imperial Tobacco who often mentions a lack of staff in the “rizla - prototype for the future department” if that helps ;o)

I beg to differ ( if I may ) Tip Top, a few more States in the US just legalised MaryJane. The tide is turning, and why not it's a weed FFS. It's no worse than booze or fags, in fact I would much rather be around puffers than lots of boozers who tend to get aggressive.

No I do not puff, never have.

How dare you interject!!!!!!!

:o)

I know the pro arguments around this subject and to be honest I couldn’t care less whether its legalised or not…..I just can’t see a British government approving it…..well, not in my lifetime anyway.

There are some good things to come from Cannabis but there is a bad side as well. It's not the wonder drug these pro puffers are making it out to be.

But there again you're not going to get the whole picture from pro puffers.

If anything needs to be banned it is alcohol!!! Alcohol is the poison in this world.

The truth about Cannibis

And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. -- Ezekiel 34:29

"The Lord said unto me, 'I will take my rest and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs.' " -- Isaiah 18:4-5

Food and Nutrition
Hempseeds and hemp oil are highly nutritious and delicious. Hempseeds are an excellent source of protein, minerals, and dietary fibre. Hemp is the only plant that contains all of the essential fatty acids and amino acids required by the human body. These essential nutrients affect a variety of body functions, including metabolism, the skin, mood, behaviour, the brain, and the heart.

Many people eat fish and take fish oil supplements to get these essential fats, however concerns around over fishing and the chemical contamination of modern fish have made many choose to switch to hemp instead. It is an especially excellent option for vegetarians.

Hemp is also good for animals, and some veterinarians recommend including it in the diets of pets and livestock. In Europe, fishermen sprinkle hempseed on the water as an effective bait. When hempseed is included in bird seed, songbirds will pick it out of the mix as they prefer it over other seeds.

Hemp foods are becoming more and more popular as the public discovers the nutritional benefits and culinary uses of hemp.

Body Care

Due to its high content of beneficial oils and natural emollient properties, hemp is becoming a common ingredient in lotions and many other skin, hair, and cosmetic products. It is a good alternative to the toxic chemicals present in many petroleum based lotions and cosmetics.

Paper

Hemp is an ideal material for making paper. It regenerates in the field in months (unlike trees which can take 30 years or more to become harvestable after planting.) Moving towards the use of hemp for paper can help save the world's forests.

Historically, hemp has been used to make paper for thousands of years. It makes a fine quality paper that is naturally acid free and does not become yellow and brittle or disintegrate over time like conventional paper.

Fabric, Textiles, and Rope

Hemp can be used to make a variety of fabrics, similar to but more durable than cotton. Hemp is also excellent for making rugs and other textiles. The word canvas comes from the Latin word for hemp.

The oldest known woven fabric was made from hemp, as were Levi Strauss' original denim jeans, and the first American flag. It was a common material for clothing until the cotton industry gained strength in America.

Hemp is the traditional rope making fibre due to its flexibility, strength, and resistance to water damage. In past centuries, hemp was extremely important to the Navy, the shipping trade, and fishing because it was used to make ropes, riggings, nets, and sails.

Fuel

For centuries, Hemp oil was used as lamp oil. It began to be phased out in America in the 1870s when petroleum was introduced.

Today, hemp oil can be used to create biofuels to replace gasoline for diesel engines. Unlike fossil fuels, biofuels are renewable and produce less of the greenhouse gas carbon monoxide.

Plastic Alternatives

Standard plastic is made from fossil fuels using toxic chemicals. Almost everything we buy is wrapped in cellophane and our landfills are full of it. A variety of alternatives to plastic can be made from hemp.

In 1941, Henry Ford held a media event where he swung an axe at a prototype car body made of hemp and other plant material to prove its strength. The technology was never put into mass production, cars continued to be made of steel, and plastics made from petrochemicals became the norm.

Fortunately, the number of available products made from hemp plastics is on the increase as awareness of the importance of developing sustainable alternatives grows.

Building Materials

Hemp based materials can replace wood and other materials used to build homes and other structures including foundations, walls, shingles, paneling, pipes, and paint.

The modern hemp building materials Hempcrete and Isochanvre are lightweight, waterproof, fireproof, self-insulating, and resistant to pests.


Why it won't be legalised - because of money and power - if you really want to educate yourself you need to watch this

http://youtu.be/E96v
ow07OJc

The comment warriors are back.

STOP PRESS: News just in cannabis doubles the risk of a stroke.
New research in from New Zealand.

CLEAR - Will only ever tell you about the good and not the bad side of Cannabis.

the wall wrote:
The comment warriors are back.

STOP PRESS: News just in cannabis doubles the risk of a stroke.
New research in from New Zealand.

CLEAR - Will only ever tell you about the good and not the bad side of Cannabis.

The study on stroke and cannabis from NZ:

Professor Alan Barber, lead investigator for the study, said "All but one of the stroke patients who were cannabis users also used tobacco regularly". Tobacco is a proven cause of stroke. This study is fundamentally flawed.

So how do most people take cannabis? By ripping apart a fag and making a roll up with a cardboard filter.

make it into butter and cook with it, make oil from it, and always smoke it neat (no tobacco).

Talking with a professional councillor cannabis is one of the biggest causes of depression

Mr Marley wrote:
make it into butter and cook with it, make oil from it, and always smoke it neat (no tobacco).

So how much can someone smoke before they use power tools or go for a drive?

Tip-Top wrote:
Sorry James, but Cannabis will never be legalised or regulated, so I suggest you do something more important with your time……I know someone in HR at Imperial Tobacco who often mentions a lack of staff in the “rizla - prototype for the future department” if that helps ;o)

Well since Cannabis use is an important part of my job, I'd hope to help end the madness of locking up kids for a joint.

But failing that I could go work at Rizla, at least I'd get 'em free :)

Please have a read of this

http://www.cancer.or
g/treatment/treatmen
tsandsideeffects/com
plementaryandalterna
tivemedicine/herbsvi
taminsandminerals/ma
rijuana