BBC and Channel 4 censorship of the Cannabis Man!

So where were we before Channel 4 and the BBC decided to rain on our parade?
Well, we were having a little look at how it might actually be a good idea to try and take drugs out of the hands of dealers and protect citizens from crime and adulterated substances.

Obviously this represents a concept that might be mistaken for joined up thinking so it’s unlikely that there will be a queue of politicians lining up to join us.

However, before we get back to the straight forward sensible stuff we would like to re-assert the position in this debate occupied by the Cannabis Man.
He does not (as already stated - but please indulge us because this is for the hard of thinking) promote, encourage or advocate the abuse of drugs (even cannabis!).

He has spent thirteen years of his life researching cannabis and has, during that time, discovered things about the plant that he believes may benefit various parts of society. His work has involved many aspects of the plant, he has discovered some things that fly in the face of currently accepted norms. Other discoveries confirm previous ideas about such areas as pain relief.

However, having devoted recent years to crossing plants, breeding new strains and examining many of the horticultural possibilities he believes he has a great deal to offer on this subject.

So what exactly does the Cannabis Man want to do with this information? What evil intent does he have?

Strangely enough, his wishes are starkly simple. He actually thinks that his knowledge can be of genuine use in this crazy world. The question is: How do you put serious cannabis information and fact in the public domain?
Surely any government possessed of even half a brain would beat a path to his door. After all this man is not a dealer... In fact it has been calculated that he has destroyed more than £3 million worth of the stuff rather than see it on the street. His role - in his own words - is to research, gain knowledge and share it. Of course you know as well as we do that any such moves on his part would almost certainly lead to incarceration. That’s how sensible our current laws actually are.

We think that it is something short of rocket science to suggest that the current laws are not only ridiculous but criminal in both their treatment of a plant and those who could benefit from it. After all this isn’t just any plant - it is proven (yes, PROVEN) to offer help to those with certain particular ailments. Part of the problem is that until there is an open and sensible debate we may never know what other possibilities, or even cures, might be on offer here. And yet, even those who know it could alleviate their own suffering must risk arrest, public humiliation and even prison if they seek out a cure.

It is those people who the Cannabis Man wants to help most directly.
The Cannabis Man has made no suggestions of the universal efficacy of the plant. In fact, contrary to many opinions expressed by those involved with cannabis, he believes that it has contra-indicators. He says quite explicitly that he sees cannabis as “good and bad”. He does not, and would not suggest that it should be compulsory - merely that those who choose to use it are safe and that those who need to use it can.

His desire is to develop the plants further, to study them in a safe environment and to develop plans for taking cannabis out of the hands of dealers and criminals and give it back to the people.

The benefits of this approach are, we believe, legion. As a plant, cannabis has many, many uses that do not involve anyone rolling a Camberwell Carrot. Its properties as animal feed are known to farmers in various parts of the world but seem under researched, its uses as a fibre have enormous historical provenance, its uses as a bio-fuel surely require serious research at a time of energy crisis and its properties as a medicine are widely supported by many medical researchers.

Never forget that the first casualty of war is truth and seldom has this been more true than when applied to the, so called, “war on drugs”.
How many governments would admit that all the available evidence shows that decriminalisation of cannabis has little or no impact on either use patterns or attitudes towards the drug? The answer would be none if that information hadn’t come from a 1981 US Government study.

Or what about this... “Scientific data indicate the potential therapeutic value of cannabinoid drugs, primarily THC, for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting and appetite stimulation...... Except for the harms associated with smoking, the adverse effects of marijuana use are within the range tolerated for other medications.” That quote comes from the final conclusions of the US Institute of Medicine, March 1999.

So how can they admit medical efficacy on one hand and yet refuse (against international law) to allow use?

Maybe they’re just hypocrites.

Even closer to home we find some startling information about this ‘dirty drug’. How about this for a kick off - Following a year long scientific study the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee found in 1988 that “The Government should allow doctors to prescribe cannabis for medical use... Cannabis can be effective in some patients to relieve symptoms of multiple sclerosis, and against certain forms of pain... This evidence is enough to justify a change in the law.”

And, don’t forget - written references to medical uses of cannabis extend back more than 2,000 years.

No wonder the Cannabis Man is starting to get a little angry about all this..... The time for change has come..... We still have a few posts to go - including one or two that may rock the boat, so we’ll see you tomorrow and thanks for reading. Your comments and support are much appreciated.

http://www.cambo.org.uk