Tuesday 22 February 2011
Tuesday 15 February 2011
Light Up the Sky - Press Release
Lantern release on the 20th April 2011 at 21.00 hrs (LOCAL TIME) to highlight the need for Cannabis to be properly regulated.
In the recent years Cannabis legislation has become more important with more and more people realising the benefits of Cannabis use. With many scientists and health campaigners understanding that the biggest problems with cannabis use result from the nature of the drug’s regulation – contact with criminals, police involvement and subsequent charges and possibly the loss of a job, we aim to change this.
On the back of the oppressive legislation – the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 – Cannabis is seen as having no medicinal use as seen by it being listed as a schedule 1 drug meaning no medicinal benefit. However more and more research has shown that there are many illness/conditions that can be treated with Cannabis, (such as Chronic Pain, Alzheimer’s and Brest Cancer - McAllister SD, Christian RT, Horowitz MP, Garcia A, Desprez PY (November 2007). "Cannabidiol as a novel inhibitor of Id-1 gene expression in aggressive breast cancer cells"), indeed it is being marketed as Sativex, (Sativex is a mouth spray developed by the UK Company GW Pharmaceuticals for multiple sclerosis patients). This misinformation about Cannabis continues to confuse people and prevents proper discussion and, the freedom to use Cannabis for those who feel they benefit from it.
Professor Nutt of Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs was dismissed form his job as he had in his professional opinion and after many years of research concluded that Cannabis use is safer than alcohol use. This dismissal of the chairman of the Advisory Council for honestly reporting his findings effectively shows the British Governments refusal to look at the facts, and indeed appear to be attempting to subvert honest research as a political tool, (much support can be garnered through manipulating peoples fear).
Very often GP’s would secretly advise people if they can access cannabis to help their condition then to do it, again we see medical people recognising the benefits of Cannabis, (1 in 6 people report this in a survey, published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice). How many people suffer needlessly due to the prohibition of Cannabis?
Many economists believe that the taxation garnered from legalising Cannabis to be worth millions to the British economy and this money can be used in the NHS, Education, or to help stop some of the massive cuts that are being made at the moment. Also the legalisation would SAVE money. Much is being spent each year policing illegal grows and events. Time is taken up in court, with costs in solicitors’ judges and all the ancillary staff. And our already overcrowded prison system is struggling to deal with proper criminals who are a danger to people, why are we adding to this by imprisoning people who are using Cannabis for themselves and not harming anyone?
In the US up to 1 Trillion Dollars have been spent on the war on drugs with little impact, in England for policing Cannabis, (not taking into consideration the Customs & Excise), amounts to at least £50 million a year (including sentencing costs), and absorbs the equivalent of 500 full-time police officers, (source South Bank University’s Criminal Policy Research Unit). At such a time of economic hardships can we still justify this outrageous expenditure?
We as a group of Cannabis users understand the nature of Cannabis and wish to highlight some of the reasons why we believe Cannabis should be made legal. We are organising a lantern release on the 20th April 2011 at 21.00 hrs (LOCAL TIME) to highlight the need for Cannabis to be properly regulated. We have a face book page under the name Light up the sky, and a website -
http://lightupsky.blogspot.com/
- with links to cannabis information and information about the lantern release. We urge all people who are interested in civil liberties, the health and welfare of their loved ones, those who want to protect their family from crime and see a more rational approach to Cannabis to get involved in spreading the word about this up coming demonstration.
In the recent years Cannabis legislation has become more important with more and more people realising the benefits of Cannabis use. With many scientists and health campaigners understanding that the biggest problems with cannabis use result from the nature of the drug’s regulation – contact with criminals, police involvement and subsequent charges and possibly the loss of a job, we aim to change this.
On the back of the oppressive legislation – the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 – Cannabis is seen as having no medicinal use as seen by it being listed as a schedule 1 drug meaning no medicinal benefit. However more and more research has shown that there are many illness/conditions that can be treated with Cannabis, (such as Chronic Pain, Alzheimer’s and Brest Cancer - McAllister SD, Christian RT, Horowitz MP, Garcia A, Desprez PY (November 2007). "Cannabidiol as a novel inhibitor of Id-1 gene expression in aggressive breast cancer cells"), indeed it is being marketed as Sativex, (Sativex is a mouth spray developed by the UK Company GW Pharmaceuticals for multiple sclerosis patients). This misinformation about Cannabis continues to confuse people and prevents proper discussion and, the freedom to use Cannabis for those who feel they benefit from it.
Professor Nutt of Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs was dismissed form his job as he had in his professional opinion and after many years of research concluded that Cannabis use is safer than alcohol use. This dismissal of the chairman of the Advisory Council for honestly reporting his findings effectively shows the British Governments refusal to look at the facts, and indeed appear to be attempting to subvert honest research as a political tool, (much support can be garnered through manipulating peoples fear).
Very often GP’s would secretly advise people if they can access cannabis to help their condition then to do it, again we see medical people recognising the benefits of Cannabis, (1 in 6 people report this in a survey, published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice). How many people suffer needlessly due to the prohibition of Cannabis?
Many economists believe that the taxation garnered from legalising Cannabis to be worth millions to the British economy and this money can be used in the NHS, Education, or to help stop some of the massive cuts that are being made at the moment. Also the legalisation would SAVE money. Much is being spent each year policing illegal grows and events. Time is taken up in court, with costs in solicitors’ judges and all the ancillary staff. And our already overcrowded prison system is struggling to deal with proper criminals who are a danger to people, why are we adding to this by imprisoning people who are using Cannabis for themselves and not harming anyone?
In the US up to 1 Trillion Dollars have been spent on the war on drugs with little impact, in England for policing Cannabis, (not taking into consideration the Customs & Excise), amounts to at least £50 million a year (including sentencing costs), and absorbs the equivalent of 500 full-time police officers, (source South Bank University’s Criminal Policy Research Unit). At such a time of economic hardships can we still justify this outrageous expenditure?
We as a group of Cannabis users understand the nature of Cannabis and wish to highlight some of the reasons why we believe Cannabis should be made legal. We are organising a lantern release on the 20th April 2011 at 21.00 hrs (LOCAL TIME) to highlight the need for Cannabis to be properly regulated. We have a face book page under the name Light up the sky, and a website -
http://lightupsky.blogspot.com/
- with links to cannabis information and information about the lantern release. We urge all people who are interested in civil liberties, the health and welfare of their loved ones, those who want to protect their family from crime and see a more rational approach to Cannabis to get involved in spreading the word about this up coming demonstration.
Monday 14 February 2011
70% of Brits & 66% of the U.S Think Cannabis Prohibition Should End
Public opinion’s voice is only ever bugled through the lucid tones of media editorial.
For many years the stalemate of cannabis law has boiled down to one thing; a political issue. Politicians on both sides of the Atlantic bow down to lobby pressure and the clamour of the press gang. A misleading stance is perpetuated that cannabis law is fine how it is because the public demand it so, therefore, votes will be won and lost on the basis of policy.
In recent years, and with the wane of forced opinion due to the advent of the internet, the voice of society can make their own position clear without the need for filter.
A case in point for this new brand of free speech is the two polls that demonstrate that the public of Britain and America are no longer happy with the status quo of cannabis law.
In 2010, the Liberal Democrats for Drug Policy Reform commissioned a poll on the merits of cannabis prohibition Vs regulation. When this question is posed - and with the true meanings of the terms explained - the dangers of cannabis prohibition become staggeringly evident. 70% of those polled wished for regulation; a report on the poll can be seen here at Encod.org.
Running parallel to this British poll, the U.S. publication The Economist - and a YouGov poll - has also fired a warning shot at prohibition. 66% wished to end the counter-productive laws on cannabis in favour of a regulatory model where cannabis can be taxed, controlled and with relevant potency and health information. Please view the results here at the Economist.
These figures are a far cry from what we are led to believe. Perhaps this is a sure sign that a communal effort is needed to raise awareness. Make no mistake, this is a battle of attrition, if change is to come about it is going to take every voice to do their part. Perhaps the most confusing part of these results? Why did they not receive the press attention deserved given such a significant outcome?
For many years the stalemate of cannabis law has boiled down to one thing; a political issue. Politicians on both sides of the Atlantic bow down to lobby pressure and the clamour of the press gang. A misleading stance is perpetuated that cannabis law is fine how it is because the public demand it so, therefore, votes will be won and lost on the basis of policy.
In recent years, and with the wane of forced opinion due to the advent of the internet, the voice of society can make their own position clear without the need for filter.
A case in point for this new brand of free speech is the two polls that demonstrate that the public of Britain and America are no longer happy with the status quo of cannabis law.
In 2010, the Liberal Democrats for Drug Policy Reform commissioned a poll on the merits of cannabis prohibition Vs regulation. When this question is posed - and with the true meanings of the terms explained - the dangers of cannabis prohibition become staggeringly evident. 70% of those polled wished for regulation; a report on the poll can be seen here at Encod.org.
Running parallel to this British poll, the U.S. publication The Economist - and a YouGov poll - has also fired a warning shot at prohibition. 66% wished to end the counter-productive laws on cannabis in favour of a regulatory model where cannabis can be taxed, controlled and with relevant potency and health information. Please view the results here at the Economist.
These figures are a far cry from what we are led to believe. Perhaps this is a sure sign that a communal effort is needed to raise awareness. Make no mistake, this is a battle of attrition, if change is to come about it is going to take every voice to do their part. Perhaps the most confusing part of these results? Why did they not receive the press attention deserved given such a significant outcome?
Thursday 10 February 2011
Light Up the Sky? - What Is It?
On the 20 April at 21:00 - 21 April at 00:00, ‘Light Up The Sky’ invites the lighting of a beacon in recognition of the counterproductive cannabis laws.
The ‘Light Up The Sky’ movement asks that concerned citizens of the world act in accordance with their own beliefs by releasing an LED balloon, or a sky lantern, in efforts to raise awareness of cannabis prohibition and the human costs.
‘Light Up The Sky’ is non profit making and it is not a campaign group - it is simply a collection of like minded individuals, wishing for their voices to be heard in what has become a political wilderness. Despite all the evidence to the contrary & the detrimental effects, the prohibition of cannabis has become a political garrison and has directly funded terrorism, human trafficking and gang wars the world over. Cannabis prohibition also impedes the protection of our young by allowing a feral industry - which is booming - and directly targets youth culture. The UK alone spends £19billion on the ‘War on Drugs’ with cannabis receiving a large portion of that budget. Cannabis now has an estimated street worth of £5billion which acts as uncapped profits to fuel a perpetual underground. In the U.S, these figures are exponentially greater. The results of cannabis prohibition - as in 1920’s prohibition America - have once more been catastrophic; change is needed.
‘Light Up The Sky’ does not condone or promote the breaking of law, but it does however demand the evocation of the democratic necessity to debate & question law with a view to seeking better policy that shall benefit society as a whole. It is the view of ‘Light Up The Sky’ that the abolition of cannabis prohibition and a regularity system in its stead is the logical step in:
Cutting crime, freeing valuable police resources, implementing age check systems to protect the young & vulnerable, to raise awareness to adequate harm reduction & emplacements of quality control, and to allow the human rights of an estimated 165 million non-problematic cannabis users worldwide.
'Light Up The Sky' invites every concerned citizen to raise awareness and do what they think is just in a night of celebrations befitting of the mutual goal of responsibility; an aim for a carnival atmosphere, and to aid the mutual aim of ending prohibition.
Get involved, spread the word, and find out more on the facebook pages:
Light Up the Sky
ItShould BeLegal
Thank you.
The ‘Light Up The Sky’ movement asks that concerned citizens of the world act in accordance with their own beliefs by releasing an LED balloon, or a sky lantern, in efforts to raise awareness of cannabis prohibition and the human costs.
‘Light Up The Sky’ is non profit making and it is not a campaign group - it is simply a collection of like minded individuals, wishing for their voices to be heard in what has become a political wilderness. Despite all the evidence to the contrary & the detrimental effects, the prohibition of cannabis has become a political garrison and has directly funded terrorism, human trafficking and gang wars the world over. Cannabis prohibition also impedes the protection of our young by allowing a feral industry - which is booming - and directly targets youth culture. The UK alone spends £19billion on the ‘War on Drugs’ with cannabis receiving a large portion of that budget. Cannabis now has an estimated street worth of £5billion which acts as uncapped profits to fuel a perpetual underground. In the U.S, these figures are exponentially greater. The results of cannabis prohibition - as in 1920’s prohibition America - have once more been catastrophic; change is needed.
‘Light Up The Sky’ does not condone or promote the breaking of law, but it does however demand the evocation of the democratic necessity to debate & question law with a view to seeking better policy that shall benefit society as a whole. It is the view of ‘Light Up The Sky’ that the abolition of cannabis prohibition and a regularity system in its stead is the logical step in:
Cutting crime, freeing valuable police resources, implementing age check systems to protect the young & vulnerable, to raise awareness to adequate harm reduction & emplacements of quality control, and to allow the human rights of an estimated 165 million non-problematic cannabis users worldwide.
'Light Up The Sky' invites every concerned citizen to raise awareness and do what they think is just in a night of celebrations befitting of the mutual goal of responsibility; an aim for a carnival atmosphere, and to aid the mutual aim of ending prohibition.
Get involved, spread the word, and find out more on the facebook pages:
Light Up the Sky
ItShould BeLegal
Thank you.
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