UK Medical Cannabis Users Leading by Example: NORML UK

t was former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis who said 'Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants'. He also commented 'Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases.' In both cases he could have been speaking directly on behalf of cannabis reform in the UK.

Regular British cannabis growers/users would be forgiven for wishing to live their lives behind closed curtains. Lets face it there's never any good news in the UK so far as cannabis is concerned, and no matter how many times Dr Bob Melamede, (or Rick Simpson for that matter) cures cancer with it.
So users tend to be introverted and secretive and why wouldn't they be? The anti's need only the slightest whiff of cannabis to trigger another 'drugs witch hunt'. As was the case with Wigan school teacher of ten years Alan Taylor.

Science teacher Mr Taylor was arrested when 4 cannabis plants were found at his home. As a result he lost his job, and the British education system lost a secondary school teacher who was rated as "Excellent" by teachers watchdog Ofsted. Because of something he does in his spare time.

Mr Taylor's case is especially pertinent because he formed the point of a triangle of doom so far as a school teacher is concerned. He was the bridge between cannabis and children.

In actual fact he wasn't. There was no suggestion any illegality took place at his place of work. His alleged crimes, were committed at home, behind closed doors. An entirely private affair.

But personal privacy doesn't stop the Debra Bell's or the Peter Hitchens of this world cementing their own personal celebrity on the back of stories just like Mr Taylor's. Because cannabis is involved so that makes anything fair game.

There's a saying which goes along the lines of 'Its the squeaky wheel which gets the oil' and a squeaky wheel would just about sum up Peter Hitchens.

He's a prickocious and arrogant little fella who in that annoying way conservatives have to a fine art, simply refuses to see things from any other angle than his own.

He doesn't CARE 2 year old Cash Hyde is about to die in his father Mike's arms! He has another book to sell and cannabis is the fuel which drives sales.

And there in a nutshell is the problem cannabis needs to surmount in the UK.

Peter Hitchen has is column in the Daily Mail on which to bang on about a cannabis psychosis it seems only he is afflicted by. But who is talking back at him and his ilk?

No-one.

But thats all about to change.

NORML UK - Working to Reform Cannabis Laws
Des Humphrey is one of the most well-known cannabis campaigners in Britain; a former soldier and proud Welshman, Des is well known for his good humour and his tireless campaigning.

Des is himself a medicinal user of cannabis, which he uses to treat spasms and pains from back injuries he suffered in younger life.

Des was previously NORML UK Deputy Executive Director.

The UK was lacking a credible cannabis campaigning organisation and I'm very proud in less than 6 months we now have just that in the form of NORML UK.

"I am looking forward to organising our first NORML UK Annual General Meeting in early 2013, there is much work to do and I relish the challenge."

The position Deputy Exec Director Des Humphrey vacated has been filled by another medical cannabis user; Multiple Sclerosis sufferer Clark French.

Clark is hoping his own experiences in using cannabis to treat the symptoms of MS may help people with with the condition better understand what treatments are available and perhaps more importantly how they work.

"I'm extremely excited to accept the role of Deputy Executive Director of NORML UK" said Clarke, "I feel it is the perfect platform for me to focus on getting the story of medical cannabis patients heard.

"I plan to build on current publicity and pubic support to push the campaign to levels, which we have yet to see in the UK. Having experienced a regulated system in California I am convinced that cannabis can be regulated on a commercial level properly in the UK."

"Providing safeguards for minors and ensuring safe access to medicine and also as a safer recreational alternative to both cigarettes and alcohol", he concluded.

Going back to the opening paragraph about sunlight being the best disinfectant? This is whats so exciting about NORML UK.

Des and Clark firmly believe in what they're doing. They use cannabis and they don't care who knows about it. And its this transparency which is the most exciting ingredient in this the latest UK cannabis campaigning strategy to emerge.

With the emergence of social networking has come a veritable flood of new, scientifically proved information which shows cannabis for what it really is.

Yes there is a risk some could be harmed by using cannabis but to put some perspective on that fact peanuts, are scientifically more dangerous to humanity, than cannabis.

On the flip side cannabis has a whole heap of benefits and this is the real secret because once its out it will change the world as we know it.

Over the counter drug sales like ibuprofen and paracetamol will be hit hard once people get wind they can grow a plant which will help with the ache's and pains associated with getting old. Not only that but it'll make you laugh too. A lot. So its in big pharma's best interests to keep cannabis outlawed.

Legend has it DuPont Oil Company played a major part in the lie which saw cannabis outlawed. Why? Because everything we use which is made of plastic comes out of an oil derrick currently. But it could be grown out the ground instead. Hemp cellulose can make anything petroleum products can make, including plastics, paints and petrol. So its in the oil industry's best interest to keep cannabis firmly outlawed.

Recreationally there are benefits too. Now lets get the obvious out the way and say smoking....anything, isn't good. But if you do smoke tobacco and add cannabis to it, that doesn't make the smoke any more likely to give you cancer.

Indeed there are reports from America which go on to explain that cannabis use can actually have a protective role when it comes to certain conditions like neck and head cancers .

We could go on all day. All these facts exists. The science is in, but the UK has absolutely no idea about any of it.

Lets hope the guys at NORML UK manage to spread the word.

With the gnarly old campaign experienced Des Humphrey allied with the communications savvy Clark French (who looks like he should be in a boy band) its an exciting blend which may get things moving in the right direction, with a bit of public support.

If you have an interest in just and scientifically proven cannabis laws for the UK, do check out NORML UK.

http://norml-uk.org

By Red Dragon @ UK Cultivator

http://ukcultivator.net 09/11/2012