The Cannabis Man comes forth

They do say that appearances can be deceptive. Perhaps whoever coined the phrase had the foresight to have the Cannabis Man in mind.

Here is a man who works seven days a week, works out five times a week and has been growing his precious plants for thirteen years whenever time allowed.

Not once in thirteen years has he sold so much as a leaf. All he has done in that time is learn everything there is to know about the weed; experimenting on himself; examining health benefits; testing different strains and breeding his own unique plants.

Now he’s had enough. Thirteen years have passed without the corruption of youth, without a penny being earned and yet the Cannabis Man still has very good reason to fear the authorities because they have decided that this weed of a plant is one of God’s mistakes. The arrogance is stunning enough, but the lies told about cannabis are, perhaps, even worse.

Time looking enviously at the Duke of Northumberland and his poison garden (which includes cannabis) has forced the Cannabis Man into the daylight. He too wants official sanction of his work, the chance to put his knowledge to use; the chance to explain to everyone the plus and minus points; the chance to educate; the chance to take forward the benefits he has found to health; the chance to reveal how this plant can help with weight loss; just the chance to explain.

Instead, in the face of a society that neither cares nor understands, he is forced to carefully manage his movement from the dark and into the light - always aware that a knock at the door could lead to a visionary and creative horticulturist being removed from society.

But who would benefit from his removal? Certainly not those for whom cannabis can be a lifeline in times of extreme pain, those with M.S. and those whose healing the Cannabis Man can aid.

His research into the health giving properties of this plant - because that’s what we’re talking about here: A Plant - and his research into cannabis as a health supplement and an aid to weight loss is very probably unique, but until there is an honest and open debate we may never know just how unique.

This is a man who has no greater desire than to share his vast knowledge and, as he says, “I just want to use this knowledge. I have got things to say and all I’m looking for is a chance to say them.”

With this in mind, and a British Government that seems sadly backward looking, he is willing to share the knowledge with any country that wants to listen. A place where his own cannabis garden would be a feature part of a learning experience. He will happily share his experience with any scientists with a genuine interest or even a government department (although that might be too much to ask for here in Britain).

Let’s face it, we will look back upon today, as a missed chance to learn about this amazing plant that has been used throughout history. The fact that we pursue a blinkered vision of banning anything we aren’t sure of and then applying misleading blanket classifications that do nothing to improve learning or understanding and certainly have done nothing at all to minimise drug use. Instead, let’s be grown up about it and recognise that the Cannabis Man has derived recipes for this plant that run from eating and drinking it to making wine from it.

Like everyone involved in such research, the Cannabis Man has had the chance to make a fortune from what he does. The very fact that he has not earned a penny piece surely must indicate the truth in his belief that this plant has much to offer. Is it too much to ask that he be given an adult response to his work?