Cannabis cafe opens in US. So why not in the UK too?
The American movement for the reform of cannabis laws took a huge step forward recently, when the state of Oregon opened its first official, licenced cannabis cafe.
According to Reuters, the licensed premises (which is imaginatively named 'Cannabis Cafe'), is being seen as a direct challenge on President Obama's much publicised announcement that the federal government would not interfere in state sanctioned medical marijuana operations.
The opening of this cafe indicates a big 'thumbs up' for medical marijuana from the White House, or if not a thumbs up, at least a slight recognition of the remarkeably safe side-effect profile and the low inherent toxicity cannabis has. But the pharma's won't be happy..
So here's how it works. For the sake of a small monthly subscription, members with a medical marijuana permit may congregate and consume cannabis just so long as it is out of public view.
The cafe may only supply cannabis products to those Portland residents who can show a valid doctors permit.
Madeline Martinez is the executive director in Oregon, of the world's largest cannabis reform movement (NORML).
Martinez told reporters,"This club represents personal freedom, finally, for our members."
Its a place where people may openly talk about the cultivation and the consumption of a plant which in the United Kingdom, you face 5 years in prison simply for possessing.
Medical marijuana is nothing new in the US. Its been supplied by the federal government to patients with a doctors recommendation for over thirty years.
A similar cannabis cafe which was set up in Lansing on the south coast of the UK was famously raided by police armed with a bulldozer just recently.
Whilst there was no cannabis found during the raid, police were acting on information which told them there would be an amount of cannabis on the premises. Shortly afterwards an operation was launched which would tie up the services of over 20 police officers as well as heavy demolition equipment, at huge cost to the public purse.
Whilst in the United states. That country with which the UK is meant to have a 'special' relationship, the green curtain of prohibition is finally being pulled back.
And it seems the UK can listen to US military advisors, but cannot hear the US medical advisors who agree wholesale that cannabis is a safe, effective medicine?
So how does that work?
Ask your MP to support evidence based drugs policy.
An estimated 21,000 people, with conditions such as cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and Tourette’s syndrome, are reportedly registered to use cannabis with a doctors recommendation in Oregon alone.
Meanwhile those same patients with a UK post-code are being harassed and bullied by a police force which is being flagrantly misguided by a government with no new ideas on how to tackle drugs.
Multiple sclerosis patient Sarah Martin believes cannabis is the best way to liberate herself from the daily pain she endures.She says just half a teaspoon in a hot drink will keep her pain-free and spasm-free for about three hours. She also uses a vaporizer to ingest the drug.But by obtaining the much sought after relief which enables her to walk a little more easily once her muscles have freed up , she becomes a criminal.She chooses not to take any regular - and legal - medication, maintaining it would give her side effects such as high blood pressure, ulcers and even the risk of heart failure and psychosis.
As if to prove the British public are forced to endure one rule for them and another for people in positions of power this was the moment UK newspaper the Daily Mirror exposed two London traffic wardens who were happy to sell the newspaper cannabis even though they were in uniform and patroling the streets of our Capitol city. A Swaggering traffic warden openly deals skunk cannabis while on duty in the street.He thinks nothing of handing over the illegal drug which carries a maximum 14 years jail for convicted dealers in a busy residential area.He was exposed by the Mirror in an undercover investigation in which he boasted he could get unlimited supplies of the dangerous Class B substance.His ticketing machine swinging around his waist, the chubby attendant also proudly claimed to be able to cancel any parking ticket if he gets the nod on the day it is issued.
A British man who served half of a seven year sentence for dealing in illicit drugs has set up again in a similar trade, but this time with a subtle difference. Yes he sells recreational drugs. But this time the drugs (like 2-DPMP, BK-MBDP and 4-MMCat, to name but three) are legal to buy and possess. Not only that but he can sell them with a clear conscience, as any adverse side-effects are covered with a weak, but clearly presented cloak of protection.The label reads Not for human consumption . It looks like coke. Acts like it too, or very similar at least, but this is in fact meeow meeow, (also known as 4-MMCatt or Mepherdrone)
Green/Eco/Environment 
