CLEAR - cannabis law reform political party - UK

[CHELSEA_SMOKERS_SOCIETY]

so, this may be a vague post, but just wondering if anyone else is following the ongoing saga/issues at CLEAR.

as far as i can tell the story so far is:

the LCA (legalise cannabis alliance) used to be a political party in the UK, albeit a very small one. (side note: i used to use their logo on my mix cd's.) Eventualy the LCA quit being a political party and became a pressure group. smart move, as they had no impact politically, and would now focus on getting anti prohibition message out and about. i remember seeing some articles they wrote etc, in various weed magazines, but nothing big.

a year or so ago the LCA, at an all time low for membership and presence, voted in a new leader. Peter Reynolds. I read online that only 70 votes were cast, showing how low the LCA had gone.

now.... Peter Reynolds has in the last year completely changed the LCA into something totally different. he renamed the group CLEAR (cannabis law reform party), made the group a political party again and completely rebranded the image of the party.

i have only recently become aware of CLEAR, and having read up on it online a lot i see that there is a real shit storm happening with supporters of the new CLEAR and supporters of the old LCA, let me try and explain....

the huge changes that Peter Reynolds has made, have massivley increased the popularity of the group (700 paying mebers, 7000 follwers on facebook) by modernising the image and shedding the hippie/liberal/stoner stereotype. in fact Peter Reynolds himself couldnt be any less of a hippie. he is infact openly Right Wing. He is an ex member of the conservative party, and his Blog (which he has now shut down) contained some really right wing complaints about the usual 'state of the country' stuff. if you read the comments on the facebook updates, amongst the support comments theres always some who clearly dont like him being in charge.
another bone of contention is how ruthless he has been in these changes. he has removed many people from CLEAR who actually voted him in, including the original founders of the LCA. as far as i can see no one was expecting the name change and personell change, and are very bitter about it.

has anyone else being paying attention to all this and have any opinions etc?

http://www.facebook.com/#!/ClearUK
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Reynolds_(politician)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CLEAR_campaign
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalise_Cannabis_Alliance
http://alunbuffry.blogspot.com/2012/01/ ... s-law.html

[spidergawd]

Sorry CSS, I haven't been paying attention, but he sounds like he would make an effective advocate and that's whats needed. We are still pushing at a closed door but it doesn't have so many heavyweights leaning on the other side these days .
Reading CLEAR's wiki page it seems to me that Reynolds has the right approach to the issue. To put forward honest and well researched contributions to the debate thereby giving neutral and sympathetic decision makers good material to move forward with: But also to challenge deliberately erroneous propaganda and the "Freddie Starr ate my rodent on cannabis" hysteria.

I remember years ago going to a couple of LCA organised annual smokeouts in Brockwell Park but other than being a bit of a trip groovin down Brixton way with a Camberwell Carrot,
I dont suppose it advanced the cause as much as a millimetre. . But happi dayz.

[Tranquilised]

I remember years ago going to a couple of LCA organised annual smokeouts in Brockwell Park but other than being a bit of a trip groovin down Brixton way with a Camberwell Carrot,
I dont suppose it advanced the cause as much as a millimetre. . But happi dayz.

Yeah I remember those Legalise marches, those were the days; like a free festival vibe, thousands marching the streets spliffing away inches from the Bill, seeing hundreds of people hanging out their windows en route openly toking or just waving support-was the first time I realised how many people actually toked, it was like we came out of the woodwork! Thousands more turning up at the park for music and dancing, space cakes for sale everywhere.

Maybe I was a naive student but there hasn't been a time before or since when our voices were so loud it felt that the powers that be were actually sitting up and taking notice and something might change?

Even The Independent did that big one down Piccadilly ending up in Trafalgar Square. Then the government somehow managed to legislate the very idea of protest out of existence, let's not let the same thing happen in 'Dam-show your support on 420!

[youngian]

Its more a pressure group than a political party. I thought the website was clean and effectively written.

Your comments about him being right wing is interesting as you will find more and more Tories are sympathetic such as lawyers who are sick of this pointless policy and middle class people worried about their student off spring getting criminal records.

If changes will come it will be through the courts and the police rather than governments who would kick the drugs debate in the long grass (no pun intended) as they have little to gain politically.

[Loftmonkey]

Im unsure, Ive been keeping an eye on him. I used to think, yeah this guy seems ok, read more and ooops, maybe not! To me, no matter what the topic, at the end of the day, it helps to climb ladders.
Just a couple of things that spring to mind...he's never tried MJ, wants to put a stamp duty on it, wants to tax you at a % per gram of THC, yes THC. A pal of mine, knows a lot on him and CLEAR, I will ask if he will share his knowledge.

Keep safe

[Boner]

he's never tried MJ

Who, Peter Reynolds? follow him on Facebook and you'll see he's a toker, happily admits and posts pics of what he's smoking now & then.

No political party will get into power on the basis of being solely about cannabis so that isn't an issue, what he's trying to do it raise awareness and get it decriminilised/legalised/legalised for medical purposes.

There's a bit of a witch hunt for him on Facebook which is just dividing the cannabis community, what we need is to pull together.

[Loftmonkey]

I'm with you there Boner. Just that a pal of mine has been a member for sometime, contributes monies too. I'm going off his info, which I trust, very good pal. I shall ask him if he will share what he knows on here, as I really dont know that much about him or Clear. I know he supported Peter at the begining, but isn't too keen now

Keep safe

[spidergawd]

Right, I've joined so now I can have some input. It's been frustrating all these years not to have a coherent voice.
Of course those actively opposed to change will character assasinate anyone who is effective in their lobbying, and that is easy to do with social media; I dislike social media generally, twitter, facebook whatever, I mean look at the minichat on here, no disrespect folks, but the level of verbal exchange is fairly basic. But having watched the Arab Spring and all that and peoples ability to communicate during emergencies in remote communities I have to admit that it has it's uses.
What I'm saying is if everything in a particular movement hinges on one individual then they will knock him over and we'll all run around again like headless chickens for another few years.
So if you hear stuff and you dont believe it or you know it to be untrue, dont jump on the net and repeat it. Please

http://clear-uk.org/

Edited out the S&/t. Harsh language .

[Hemlok]

High everyone, I trust we are all safe and well ?

Boner I apologise sincerely about the info I passed onto loftmonkey, I was told this by an old friend who obviously was wrong!

The main reason personally I take issue with Clear is their current aims & objectives, if and when Mj is legalised in this country I would as medical user happily pay for a license to grow a number of plants, but i am not even remotely impressed by Point 3 a cannabis tax of £1 p/gm plus a stamp duty on all growing equipment (not mentioned in the main aims but its there)which would effectively price all home growers out of the market, cannabis would be legal but at one hell of a price and neither you or me will be growing ever again unless of course your a millionaire in which case yay go you

I wish I had kept the article which I read about the above on (not the toking bit) but I am very surprised my friend is wrong, in future I Promise to just keep my big fat yap shut

Here are the current aims & objectives of clear for anyone interested

keep safe everyone hope to see you at the march on 4:20 I'll be the Very very quite one


1. To end the prohibition of cannabis.

Prohibition is a big, dumb, and very expensive failure.  It is brutal.  It puts prejudice before people.  The “war on drugs” is responsible for more death, destruction and despair than any other war.  History has shown that prohibition creates far more problems than it solves.   In the 21st century we should expect far better solutions from our policy makers and governments.

2. To promote as a matter of urgency and compassion the prescription of medicinal cannabis by doctors.

No reasonable human being can deny another relief from pain, suffering or disability.  There is no rational argument against permitting access to medicinal cannabis for those who need it.  The fact that the British government and the deeply rooted bureaucracy of the Home Office stand in the way is a deep and lasting shame on our nation.

3. To introduce a system of regulation for the production and supply of cannabis based on facts and evidence.

Authoritative research from the Independent Drug Monitoring Unit proves that a cannabis tax and regulate regime in Britain would produce a boost to the UK economy of at least £6 billion per annum.  That’s based on a cannabis tax of £1 per gram, massive savings in law enforcement costs but allowing for the cost of administering the system and providing additional healthcare and education services. All the evidence and experts agree that a responsibly regulated system would also reduce all health and social harms.

4. To encourage the production and use of industrial hemp.

The prohibition of cannabis has caused huge damage to our society, environment and economy by preventing the cultivation of hemp.  Although the industrial strains of the plant have no psychoactive potential, the absurd level of control has effectively destroyed its value as an agricultural crop.  With that we have lost the most efficient producer of biomass in the natural world, the strongest natural fibre, a better fabric than cotton, a better paper than wood and one of the most ecologically important activities on the planet.

5. To educate and inform about the uses and benefits of cannabis.

Prejudice is based on ignorance.  In the case of cannabis there is also deliberate misinformation. It started with Randolph Hearst, the media, timber and oil magnate of the 1930s  and it continues today with the vested interests of alcohol, tobacco, Big Pharma and, yes, media, timber and oil.  The truth about cannabis is clear and we have to spread the truth in the face of ignorance and lies.

[Hemlok]

Spidergawd it will NEVER ever happen again lesson learned !

I really am terribly sorry everyone I'm not into character assassination especially of folk I don't personally know, just feel like a proper @&$# (insert expletive) I should have double checked my facts.

Keep safe everyone and I'll apologise just once more

[Boner]

Thanks for posting all that info dude, much appreciated.

[spidergawd]

Hemlock mate, I wasn't aiming at you, but you know what I mean about "he said, they said" stuff, and I dont like figureheads to become semi dieties, if they have the right skills of advocacy then I dont need them to be charismatic a la the guy from Wikileaks, again an organisation for which I am getting a grudging respect. especially when they go after exposing where all these corrupt 3rd world dictators have stashed all the fucking aid money they've ripped off while their people starve.

Blue skies.

[Loftmonkey]

I want to appologise to Hemolk for putting him in the position, but the good thing is, it's got folk talking which helps stop the rumours etc...

We're going to Amsterdam, dont you know

[Loftmonkey]

So if you hear shit and you dont believe it or you know it to be untrue, dont jump on the net and repeat it. Please

http://clear-uk.org/[/quote]


I didn't believe it to be shit, I appologise to you yoo. As I say and Hemlok says, he heard it from an old friend, I heard it from Hemlok, in person, not on mini chat or anything, in a conversation about all things cannabis over a few hours, which is done on many occassions. So, again I'm sorry for the post, but it has helped (in a way), I'm not the best pre roll in the tub just a concerned toker
Sorry if I have offended you

Keep safe

[CHELSEA_SMOKERS_SOCIETY]

excellent deabte going on here.... thanks everyone

i have to agree that, even if your typical LCA member will take offensive to a right winger being in charge, this is a single policy party so everyone should put aside their other politcal leanings and unite for this cause..... and more importnantly, his political views are more likely to mean he is accepted by the status quo (majority). your typical daily mail reader is never going to agree with a hippie no matter how true their argument.

im tempted to join up.