cannabis coalition (uk)

International Cannabis Coalition/Cannabis Coalition uk archive

"Set free the healing herb of tranquility and utility" - Lord of Hempton

Aims: To seek a 'New Deal for Cannabis' whether for medication or recreation, for food, fuel or fibre, and to work towards the ending of cannabis prohibition worldwide.

The recent progress towards de facto decriminalization for simple possession of cannabis in Britain ('Class 'C') is to be welcomed, but is clearly not the full solution. Only the complete ending of cannabis prohibition, with the establishment of proper regulation of quality and distribution (like any other consumer product), will do. Anything less is simply a half-way house which fails to protect the public, especially young people, from the serious health and social problems associated with cannabis prohibition.

'New Deal for Cannabis' :

1. The complete, total lifting of prohibition to allow freedom for the growing, licensed sale and social or medical use of cannabis in Britain.

2. Quality controls & Health & Safety Regulations as with any other product to protect consumers.

3. Distribution through licensed premises and non-profit cannabis buyers co-operatives & clubs.

4. An immediate release of all cannabis prisoners and clearing of all cannabis criminal records.

Latest stuff: statement regarding the cannabis march and festival, 2nd march 2005. www.cannabiscoalition.org

Lambeth Council have issued a statement blaming the 'cannabis coalition' for allowing drug dealing at the cannabis festival, and refusing to allow a licence for the event this year (2005) due to their concerns regarding the management of the festival.

The 'Cannabis Coalition (uk)' which founded the annual london 'Cannabis March and Festival' in 1999, ceased to function as a true coalition at the end of 2003 and ceased all involvement in the organisation of the event. This was mainly due to unresolved disputes over the organisation of the london cannabis march and festival which made it impossible to operate as a true coalition.

These eventually caused several key members, including the original founder and coordinator, to resign rather than continue their involvement. Since then many other people have ceased involvement, including the festivals own 'health and safety' advisor, who is highly respected by both councils and festival organisers all over the country.

The 'Cannabis Coalition' therefore was not involved in the organisation of the events mentioned by Lambeth Council (see statement) having ceased to function. In fact there has been growing concern about the direction both the march and the festival have been heading.

The 'Brixton Cannabis Coalition' (see statement) was never part of the 'Cannabis Coalition', and seems to mainly represent the interests of 'Green Party Drugs Group', which is based in Brixton. It most certainly does not represent the interests of the cannabis movement as a whole.

above: artwork for cannabis march & festival poster 2001 by 'blot'.

lambeth council statement - 'brixton cannabis coalition' statement - schmoo news blog story - cannabiscoalition.org statement - cannabis coalition archive

'cannabis march to be banned': south london press story (do search for 'cannabis march'

'lambeth attempts to cancel cannabis festival': urban75.com thread (see 'Brixton' message board).

'possession with intent to heal' : coverage of court of appeal medical cannabis case: schmoo.co.uk

"Britain should be less a nation of shoppers and become more a nation of gardeners." Mary Jane, coalition supporter.

left: artwork for cannabis coalition march/festival poster 2001 by jamie reid.
cannabiscoalition.org - archive 1998 -2005
'www.cannabiscoalition.org' is a 'working archive' of the original official cannabis march and festival website 'cannabiscoalition.org', which went down in 2003 along with the phones, when the bills did not get paid. The site provides some campaigning materials and information which may still be useful, and records the events that the cannabis coalition (uk) founded and organised along with the 'International Cannabis Coalition' of which it was a part. Now that it is back up (areas not available now will be put up over the next few weeks), the site will also continue to support agreed and confirmed 'global cannabis action' events starting on the first saturday in May of each year (this year May 7th 2005). It will also continue to provide news of cannabis events both in Britain and worldwide plus and other relevant information.

cannabis declaration - medical cannabis users guide - cannabis connections - cannabis network - famous cannabis users list - new deal for cannabis - ccnews - cannabis alliance - global connections - home affairs committee report - posters & banners - press/research info - press releases

cannabis march & festival/coalition archives/ (1998 - 2005):
Establishment of coalition Sep 1998 - Clapham Common 1999 - Brockwell Park 2000 - Brockwell Park 2001 - Brockwell Park 2002 - Trafalgar Square 2002 - Brockwell Park 2003 - Brockwell Park 2004. Press releases. reports, photographs. flyers. posters. stickers.

New Deal for Cannabis - full original version

Least We Forget : In the 1970's everyone thought that the prohibition of cannabis would be ended in just a couple more years.

cannabis information & resources : cannabis declaration - medical cannabis users guide - cannabis connections - cannabis network • famous cannabis users list • new deal for cannabis • ccnews • cannabis alliance - global connections • home affairs committee report - posters & banners • press/research info • press releases

cannabis march & festival/coalition archives/ (1998 - 2005):
Establishment of coalition Sep 1998 - Clapham Common 1999 - Brockwell Park 2000 - Brockwell Park 2001 - Brockwell Park 2002 - Trafalgar Square 2002 - Brockwell Park 2003 - Brockwell Park 2004. Press releases. reports, photographs. flyers. posters. stickers.

made in schmoo

lambeth council rejects london cannabis festival application due to 'drug dealing'.

Lambeth Council has released the following press statement:

'Cannabis Festival', 23 February 2005

While Lambeth Council supports freedom of speech and the right to take part in a legitimate campaign, the council cannot condone illegal activities such as cannabis use and drug pushing - both of which have taken place at a previous festival held by the Cannabis Coalition. Indeed council officers monitoring the event in the past were approached by drug dealers who offered them drugs.

Brockwell Park is one of our best-used and well-loved parks and is popular with families. When the festival has taken place before we have received numerous complaints from local people who have been harassed by drug dealers and we have received many reports of people taking drugs. These issued have been raised with the event organizers. We do not feel confident that the Cannabis Coalition will be able to prevent such incidents occurring again.

We have a duty to ensure that any event taking place in the borough is not being used to support illegal activity - which drug dealing and drug use clearly is. Similarly we have a duty to do all we can to make sure that residents can go about their daily lives safe in the knowledge that they will not suffer undue harassment. It is for these reasons that we have refused the Cannabis Coalition permission to hold their event in Brockwell Park.

Issued by the Communications Center, London Borough of Lambeth, Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, Brixton SW2 1RW.Tel 0207 926 1000. Fax 0207 926 2839. www.lambeth.gov.uk

lambeth council statement - 'brixton cannabis coalition' statement - schmoo news story - cannabiscoalition.org statement - cannabis coalition archive

'cannabis march to be banned': south london press story (do search for 'cannabis march'

'lambeth attempts to cancel cannabis festival': urban75.com thread (see 'Brixton' message board).

'possession with intent to heal' : coverage of court of appeal medical cannabis case: schmoo.co.uk

"Britain should be less a nation of shoppers and become more a nation of gardeners." Mary Jane, coalition supporter.

Statement from the 'Brixton Cannabis Coalition' 2nd March 2005

The following statement comes from the 'Brixton Cannabis Coalition'

'Lambeth Council try to ban 7th annual Cannabis march and festival'

The Brixton Cannabis Coalition regrets the decision taken by Lambeth Council to ignore the agreed public events policy and try to ban the annual Cannabis March and Festival on Saturday 7th May because of cannabis dealers at last years Festival.

Instead of the application for a licence being taken by the relevant licensing committees the decision has been made by Cllr Clare Whelan, Tory Executive member for Environment and ratified by the Executive. This is contrary to Cllr Whelan’s statement to the Executive on 4th November 2004. “If an application is received the outcome will be determined in line with the events policy and the decision of the relevant quasi-judicial Licensing Committee“. The Police and festival organisers were not consulted on the ban.

The Brixton Cannabis Coalition request that our application is dealt with in the normal way. We ask supporters to sign the petition at www.thecannabisfestival.co.uk We also acknowledge and share Council concerns regarding cannabis dealers during the march and festival. This is a problem for us and any large open access event in Brockwell Park.

The organisers have requested police action, as in previous years, to deter dealers, but have ultimately no direct control over what they do or how they prioritise the issue of dealers.

We invite Lambeth Council officers to join the Police and the Coalition to work through these problems in a planning meeting on 11am Monday 7th March at Frank O’Neil House, Clapham Road.

Over the last 6 years the Council have taken the Festival to court twice for alleged minor licencing violations, both times we were found not guilty, then doubled the cost of using the Park by charging us a commercial price. This year the Council has not even allowed us to put our proposals before the Licencing Committee. This is against the agreed Parks event policy. This is political football in Lambeth.

Last year the Cannabis festival attracted only 4 public complaints, - based on noise, 7 arrests – one for dealing and was enjoyed by many thousands of people. We think there is a question of balance.

In a sane and tolerant society we would be consulted and recognised for putting on a safe and free event, instead Lambeth Council have made no attempt to overcome this problem but simply use it as a means to prohibit us.

We recognise that Cllr Whelan and the Executive may have more than technical problems with us. We suspect their reasons may be political. We may not fit in with their politics, their corporate, public relations driven, glossy vision of Lambeth.

The influx of West Indians from the 50’s, young urban professional clubbers and pragmatic policing in the 90’s, has given Lambeth reputation as a progressive, culturally rich and diverse area. We are part of this diversity.

We invite the Council to work with us and the police to overcome these issues, however if they refuse and simply try to prohibit the march and festival then we accuse the Executive of being intolerant of diversity.

We note the media’s reaction to the Council’s ban has already increased the size of the march. Presumably people will want to do something after the march. The question for the Executive is do they want it done licenced or unlicenced. A bit like the sale of cannabis really.

ENDS

Note. Lambeth Council is run by the Lib Dems and the Tories. Tory policy is to re-classify cannabis back to class B.

lambeth council statement - 'brixton cannabis coalition' statement - schmoo news story - cannabiscoalition.org statement - cannabis coalition archive

'cannabis march to be banned': south london press story (do search for 'cannabis march').

'lambeth attempts to cancel cannabis festival': urban75.com thread (see 'Brixton' message board).

'possession with intent to heal' : coverage of court of appeal medical cannabis case: schmoo.co.uk

"Britain should be less a nation of shoppers and become more a nation of gardeners." Mary Jane, coalition supporter.