press release

cannabiscoalition.org archive of the cannabis coalition (uk)	Press Release - Cannabis Coalition uk/ International Cannabis Coalition Sep 28th 1999 New Deal for Cannabis UK campaigners calling for the end to the prohibition of cannabis marked the 71st anniversary of the prohibition laws in Britain today (Sep 28th 1999) by offering the Home Secretary Jack Straw, a 'New Deal for Cannabis'; a policy document agreed by over 20 UK organisations campaigning against cannabis prohibition (see below). They also announced an 'International Cannabis Action Day' for 6th May 2000 which will include an 'End the Prohibition' march in London plus support events nationwide as part of a coordinated worldwide action. Last Mayday (1999) saw 10-15,000 people attending a combined march and 'Mayday Cannabis Fair' in London plus simultaneous 'end the prohibition' events in nearly 40 cities worldwide. Meanwhile Shane Collins, one of the licensees of the 'Mayday Cannabis Fair' and Green Party London Assembly candidate in London has been charged with licensing violations by Lambeth Council. The case starts 10am Thursday 30th September at South Western Magistrates Court, Lavender Hill, SW11. There will be a Press Conference 1pm Thursday 30th September at Council Chamber Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton. More details: Shane Collins (0181 671 5936). By pure coincidence Channel 4 will be broadcasting a documentary of the event on the same day as the court case; 'Herb 99' will be shown at 1.30 am on the 30th September. The next cannabis action in Britain will be on November 5th when a bill to 'relegalise' cannabis for medical purposes is due to be heard in Parliament (M.P. Paul Flynn's 'Bill 51'). So far over 100 M.P.s have declared their support for the Bill. There will be a lobby of M.P.s by medical marijuana patients and their supporters. More details: Colin Davis, 'Medical Marijuana Cooperative' (0161 4940604). The New Deal for Cannabis: 1. The Road to Safety: The immediate end to international cannabis prohibition and binding Royal Commission to investigate drugs prohibition in general and regulated legalisation. 2. Free the Weed: Personal possession, cultivation and non-profit distribution to be unlicensed. 3. New Dealers: Commercial trading to be regulated according to ethical/ecological trading standards. 4. Free the Seed: No patenting or genetic engineering of cannabis seeds. 5. Free the Holy Herb: The right to burn the herb as a sacrament enshrined under Article 18 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 6. Set the Captives Free: Free pardon for all cannabis offenders and destruction of all cannabis related records. A full apology from the government for the grievous crimes committed against its citizens in the name of the war on drugs. 7. Human Rights Inquiry into the war on drug users: An inquiry into the effects on society of prohibition and into the reasons why the war on drug users has been pursued for so long. 8. Testing for Safety not Social Control: An end to irrelevant testing by use of body samples. Relevant testing methods should be developed which can determine aptitude whilst under the influence. 9. Youth use: 16-year-old age limit only on commercial supply. Sanctions against supplier only. 10. Cut the Bullshit: Fair and factual drug information - just say KNOW. 11. Healer of the Nations: Ethical medical and industrial use of the cannabis plant Press line: 020 7637 7467 "It is our moral and civic duty to oppose an unjust Law" - Martin Luther King . 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. "Britain should be less a nation of shoppers and become more a nation of gardeners." Mary Jane, coalition supporter. made in schmoo	global cannabis action

Press Release - Cannabis Coalition uk/ International Cannabis Coalition

Sep 28th 1999

New Deal for Cannabis

UK campaigners calling for the end to the prohibition of cannabis marked the 71st anniversary of the prohibition laws in Britain today (Sep 28th 1999) by offering the Home Secretary Jack Straw, a 'New Deal for Cannabis'; a policy document agreed by over 20 UK organisations campaigning against cannabis prohibition (see below).

They also announced an 'International Cannabis Action Day' for 6th May 2000 which will include an 'End the Prohibition' march in London plus support events nationwide as part of a coordinated worldwide action. Last Mayday (1999) saw 10-15,000 people attending a combined march and 'Mayday Cannabis Fair' in London plus simultaneous 'end the prohibition' events in nearly 40 cities worldwide.

Meanwhile Shane Collins, one of the licensees of the 'Mayday Cannabis Fair' and Green Party London Assembly candidate in London has been charged with licensing violations by Lambeth Council. The case starts 10am Thursday 30th September at South Western Magistrates Court, Lavender Hill, SW11. There will be a Press Conference 1pm Thursday 30th September at Council Chamber Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton. More details: Shane Collins (0181 671 5936).

By pure coincidence Channel 4 will be broadcasting a documentary of the event on the same day as the court case; 'Herb 99' will be shown at 1.30 am on the 30th September.

The next cannabis action in Britain will be on November 5th when a bill to 'relegalise' cannabis for medical purposes is due to be heard in Parliament (M.P. Paul Flynn's 'Bill 51'). So far over 100 M.P.s have declared their support for the Bill. There will be a lobby of M.P.s by medical marijuana patients and their supporters. More details: Colin Davis, 'Medical Marijuana Cooperative' (0161 4940604).

The New Deal for Cannabis:

1. The Road to Safety: The immediate end to international cannabis prohibition and binding Royal Commission to investigate drugs prohibition in general and regulated legalisation.

2. Free the Weed: Personal possession, cultivation and non-profit distribution to be unlicensed.

3. New Dealers: Commercial trading to be regulated according to ethical/ecological trading standards.

4. Free the Seed: No patenting or genetic engineering of cannabis seeds.

5. Free the Holy Herb: The right to burn the herb as a sacrament enshrined under Article 18 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

6. Set the Captives Free: Free pardon for all cannabis offenders and destruction of all cannabis related records. A full apology from the government for the grievous crimes committed against its citizens in the name of the war on drugs.

7. Human Rights Inquiry into the war on drug users: An inquiry into the effects on society of prohibition and into the reasons why the war on drug users has been pursued for so long.

8. Testing for Safety not Social Control: An end to irrelevant testing by use of body samples. Relevant testing methods should be developed which can determine aptitude whilst under the influence.

9. Youth use: 16-year-old age limit only on commercial supply. Sanctions against supplier only.

10. Cut the Bullshit: Fair and factual drug information - just say KNOW.

11. Healer of the Nations: Ethical medical and industrial use of the cannabis plant

Press line: 020 7637 7467