With 25% of the United States now legally able to use cannabis with a doctors recommendation, and the "cannabis curtain" being pulled further down around mainland Europe, leading to a wider state of "decriminalisation" than has ever been seen before, a group of medical and scientific experts have written a letter to The Guardian newspaper, pointing out the harms that further criminalising cannabis are likely to bring to people who get caught up in the drugs war.

More often than not these people are those living on the lowest incomes, and according to the British Cannabis Lobby, these "low-income" family's should be the first to be removed from the war against drugs, by way of a policy change which would essentially decriminalise the possession of less than an ounce of cannabis unless there were aggravating circumstances.

In Holland currently a responsible adult is allowed to possess upto 5 grams of cannabis per day, or just over an ounce a week, plus they may grow upto 5 plants for personal consumption, and in Belgium the Courts recently announced adult citizens were not only allowed to possess up to 3 grams per day, but were also allowed to grow a single cannabis plant for personal consumption.

In the Basque region of Spain local courts recently passed a measure which allows the formation of an "association", to protect the human rights of those who choose to consume cannabis. This association is allowed to grow cannabis and supply it to its members, and at face value it seems a good way of controlling the trade in cannabis whilst keeping ordinary citizens, many of which break no other laws except the cannabis laws, out of the courts.

Case 1
A single mother from Kent has been handed down fines, court costs as well as a "victims surcharge" of £15, for possessing such a small amount of cannabis it couldn't be weighed.

Annie-may Rossiter, 24, of Edenbridge in Kent, was already serving a two-year conditional discharge when police arrived at her house at 7am on October 24.

After conducting a search they found a small amount of cannabis resin and arrested the mother-of-one, who was later forced into appearing in court.

Chairman of the bench Tom Stevens fined Rossiter £73 for the offence adding £60 court courts and a £15 victim surcharge as well as ordering the drugs to be destroyed.

Essentially the courts have forced Ms Rossiter and her young child, into living for an entire week with no income, in order that she may pay the fines, and its not a new phenomena by any stretch of the imagination.

Case 2
Frederick Robert Turner was 67 years of age and living on a state pension of under £100 per week when he was caught growing 6 cannabis plants at his South London home. Hardly a commercial enterprise.

As well as losing equipment worth hundreds of pounds he was forced to endure a trip to court and was fined £70 and given a twelve month conditional discharge in a court case which doubtless cost the British tax payer quite literally tens of thousands of pounds.

In his defense Mr Turner explained to the courts he suffered with high blood pressure as well as chronic rheumatoid athritis, and he said using cannabis gave him relief from the painfully inflamed joints which are a common symptom of RA.

Data which is backed up by the United States and its position on cannabis.

In America, those suffering with Mr Turners condition (rheumatoid athritis), would be encouraged to speak with their doctor or physician for a recommendation, and thereafter would be allowed to possess, and to grow cannabis for themselves.

Case 3
Singer George Michael has said the world would be an "easier place to live with" if cannabis was legal.

Speaking to ITV chat show host Michael Parkinson, the singer said he was not "advocating" the drug for everyone, but the 43 year old mega-star added, "Nobody ever came home stoned and beat up their wife."

Michael was arrested for cannabis possession in 2006 and was originally arrested for two drug offences after being found slumped over the steering wheel of his car in London's West End.

But the second drug - initially thought to be popular clubbers' drug GHB, also known as liquid ecstasy - turned out to be legal substance amyl nitrate, AKA "poppers", which is a substance popular on the gay nightclub scene.

Caution with no financial penalty?
The superstar singer admitted the offence and accepted the 'punishment' of a caution at an early morning meeting with police in London (29.03.06).

"The fact is" said Bill Stone at the British Cannabis Lobby , "the laws as they stand are ambiguous and confusing."

"In one postcode a person may be fined heavily, over 1 weeks entire income in some instances, just for possessing a miniscule amount of cannabis, and yet in another British post code, they may be let off scott-free with a warning".

"This creates a judicial system with no rhyme or reason and we would urge the Home Office to listen to the advice given by all the experts, and remove small amounts of personal cannabis possession from the war on drugs."

"Anything less makes a mockery of the Great British legal system," concluded the Cannabis Lobby spokesman.

The British Cannabis Lobby
http://forum.cannabislobby.org

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