Cannabis Campaigners Complain to Advertising Standards Authority
Legalise Cannabis Alliance Press Release April 9 2008 The Legalise Cannabis Alliance, Great Britains oldest & largest cannabis activists group, has complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), slamming as useless the Government's misleading "Frank" adverts aimed at children and youngsters who may decide they want to try cannabis, creating fear and confusing youngsters with banal video’s of no true educational value and at high public expense.
The Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) is highlighting the research of scientists showing tumour-shrinking abilities of cannabis, real scientific research. (*2)
Alun Buffry BSc, of the LCA, said: “This is serious scientific research and must be followed up immediately, yet it is being ignored by this Government. Likewise, the recommendations of the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD).
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“After asking for a review on cannabis classification in law, it appears about to be tossed aside for expedient short term electoral gains.”
The LCA has complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), (*3), slamming as useless the Government's misleading "Frank" adverts aimed at children and youngsters who may want to try cannabis, creating fear and confusing youngsters with banal video’s of no true educational value and at high public expense.
Ingo Wagenknecht, a spokesman on for the LCA on the environment, said: “If this Government is seriously interested in reducing harm to teenagers and children, then their own public heath campaign video’s should reflect scientific scrutiny, not mislead those most vulnerable to peer pressure and who are most likely to experiment with cannabis.
“In the absence of real and unbiased drugs education in schools, this is bad advice and we want it banned by the ASA.
“It appears that this Government is intent to increase the number of users amongst the young, by upping the kudos, by upgrading cannabis to a class B drug. They are ignoring the decrease in cannabis experimentation since downgrading.
“One thing is sure - our teenage children are not so stupid as to take brain stores and brain spinning propaganda against cannabis as fact. What they want to hear is the truth - warnings and advice where necessary presented in an accurate and credible manner.
“Frank, the Government's advice on drugs body, has failed miserably at that - at a cost of millions making TV adverts that look like they were made by druggies."
Notes for editors:
1: Contacts:
LCA Press Officer: Don Barnard, tel. 07984255015
LCA Spokesperson on the Environment: Ingo Wagenknecht, tel 01508538197
