news @ schmoo

feb/march 2005

saving the london cannabis march and festival

above: london 'cannabis carnival' march (2002) with 10,000 + supporters. Last year (2004) there were less than 1000. (photo by schmoo).

There are obviously serious problems regarding the organisation of the cannabis march and festival in London, including the current organisers somehow managing to be 'banned' from organising this important cannabis campaigning event by Lambeth Council, one of the most cannabis campaign friendly councils in Britain.

Lambeth Council have issued a statement refusing to allow a license for the cannabis festival this year (2005), due to their concerns regarding the management of the festival. A meeting with the council on Monday (7th March) at which the current organizers tried to gloss over the problems, ended with the council sticking to their position.

In case anyone thinks the cannabis campaign does not need every effective platform it can get, just this week (March 7th 2005), Jack Straw felt it politically necessary to hint that the government may rethink its decision to downgrade possession of cannabis to 'Class C'. He told a meeting of local residents in Warwickshire; "It was done for good reasons, but we may need to think if we have to review it in light of experience." Jack Straw lives just round the corner from the usual route of the cannabis march.

Meanwhile the Tory's are busy gaining votes by saying they would put possession of the Herb back to being a 'Class B' offence, and the press is currently even more full of negative stories about cannabis than normal.

Tory Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, a consistent critic of the Government decision to downgrade cannabis, has issued a statement this week following Jack Straw's remarks: "Finally, it appears the Government have listened to us and seen the error of their ways. The downgrading of cannabis was a dreadful decision which sends out mixed messages to children that it is OK to take drugs."

There can now be little doubt that cannabis will be an issue in the coming general election campaign, and that cannabis users look likely to suffer if they do not get their collective act together.

Survival at Stake

above: the first cannabis festival, clapham common 1999

There is also little doubt that an annual 'national' cannabis event in Britain, preferably with the combination of a march and festival, and participating in a simultaneous global action, has been a very useful vehicle for campaigning to end cannabis prohibition, and could be that again in the future, if organised properly. However, right now the survival of the event, and possibly much more is at stake, as there are serious problems regarding its management.

The event was originally founded by the Cannabis Coalition (uk) in 1998, supported by all the main cannabis campaigning groups in Britain. However, due to major disputes about the direction some people wanted to take the festival, the coalition withdrew it's involvement in 2003, as it became impossible to operate as a representative organisation.

Few of those closely involved in the past are in the least surprised that the council is refusing to deal with the current organisers, who now call themselves the 'Brixton Cannabis Coalition'. In fact this 'coalition' represents only the rather confused views of a small 'green party' clique in Brixton, who managed to take over the festival to further their own agenda, cutting out all those who do not fit their very narrow view of the world.

Even the event's own highly respected 'Health and Safety' advisor, who has supported the event since the beginning, through thick and thin, and is trusted by councils and festival organisers all over Britain, will not now support the current organisers in any licence application.

These people should resign now, and allow an organisation that is truly representative of the cannabis movement (including themselves) to organize this important campaigning event.

Lambeth Council Deserve Credit & Respect, Not Insults

Instead of the insults Lambeth Council officials have received recently from the 'Brixton Cannabis Coalition', they deserve credit and respect for the fact that in the past they bent over backwards to enable the march and festival to go ahead. The truth is that without their support, and the support of the police, (which was hard won in the beginning by friendly, non confrontational negotiations), there would have been no festival in existence for them to now 'ban'.

Theories that this is a 'Tory/Liberal Conspiracy' or some kind of big heavy political move against cannabis users are without any foundation what so ever. The move to refuse a license to the festival came from council officials acting responsibly in their professional capacity, not from some 'X Files' style 'conspiracy' between local councilors as some would have us believe.

In fact both 'Tory' and 'Liberal' parties have supporters for the ending of cannabis prohibition at the highest level within their ranks, as well as locally in places like Lambeth all over the country. It is highly detrimental for cannabis campaigners to label 'Tories' or 'Liberals' as automatically being 'Cannabis Prohibitionists' just because they generally support those parties, when many of them are actually in support of cannabis reform, or could easily be won over. This separates the supporters of two of the largest political parties in Britain from the general cannabis movement.

Far better to work with them and encourage them to change their parties prohibitionist policies towards cannabis, which ever party it is. This kind of strategy gives the potential to gain real mass support for a 'single issue' cause such as cannabis reform, rather than self inflicted marginalization, due to the fact you have labeled almost everyone, except a few of your mates, the 'enemy'.

Self Marginalization

Suggestions along the lines of 'fuck the wankers' ... 'lets just take the park with loads of sound systems' ... 'the cunts' (as read on 'urban75.com) are also irresponsible and unhelpful, despite being 'well intended' passion no doubt. Thankfully they are views of a tiny minority. Such talk only serves to discredit and harm the ongoing campaign to end the prohibition of cannabis. It was exactly this type of ‘self marginalizing' attitude that alienated support for change regarding cannabis in the 1970's, and set back reform for 20 years.

The many thousands of people from all over Britain who have supported the leally organised cannabis march and festival each year should not be lead into that kind of confrontational situation. This would only benefit those who oppose the urgent need for a sensible approach to cannabis in our society. However the statement from the 'Brixton Cannabis Coalition' threatens to do exactly that.

The truth is that if the Lambeth Council officials responsible for events could be assured that the cannabis event planned for Brockwell Park was being properly and safely run, they would allow it now, and there would be no problem. Unfortunately the current reality is that there are serious problems in the organisation of the event.

An Event Worth Saving

left: mass support at cannabis march 2002

The cannabis march and festival event is worth saving if it can be used to promote the positive reasons for lifting cannabis prohibition, including its sale and supply (regulated like any other commodity), and show the massive political support for this policy that exists in Britain (making it harder to back track on 'Class C'). It also has the potential to financially benefit the many campaigning groups and enterprises that make up the cannabis community, as well as gaining them new supporters, and be a very enjoyable event with something for everyone.

However it's fate does not depend on the actions of local Tory or Liberal councilors in Lambeth, even if they are 'conspiring', or a few moaning local residents; they always seem to exist to complain what ever is happening.

The fate of the cannabis march and festival's depends upon key players in the cannabis movement getting together and reclaiming the event. They need to re establish its responsible and representative organisation. But will they be able to get out of their armchairs? Or will it be the police knocking on the door, just for 'possession' like in the old days, that eventually gets them out of their stupor.

The Way Out

The way out of this mess is to stop talking about 'conspiracies' and whining about 'unfair treatment', and 'be S real' as Ali G would say. There are just two months to 7th May, but due to it's current state, the re organisation of the march/festival event up to acceptable standards would take much longer than that.

left: 'cannabis carnival' march

Some are saying that as it is 'Election Year', a broad based, but highly political march and rally/ or 'cannabis carnival' in central London on May 7th, possibly with indoor meetings and after parties, might be the best practical way forward. It is easier to organize given the remaining time, and could actually be beneficial to the cannabis campaign. If there is enouph support for a 'cannabis festival' something might be possible for the summer, possibly in another part of Britain.

The powerful campaigning format of combined 'cannabis march and festival' could be then properly re organised for the following year, either back at Brockwell Park if Lambeth Council agree, or at another park in London or elsewhere, Birmingham and Manchester being two good possibilities. There are actually good campaigning reasons for moving the main event to different areas around the country, although Brixton is an excellent home.

Apparently there are moves in these directions. All those who support an end to the prohibition of cannabis, should do everything they can to support and encourage attempts to re establish this event with a broad based, representative, and above all, competent and responsible organisation.