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Introduction
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The
Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) was formed to make the legalisation
of cannabis a major issue in British politics and to give ourselves
a voice
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The Origins
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In
1992, a group of Norwich people had become dissatisfied with the
legalise cannabis campaign at the time and felt that more action was
needed.
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Jack Girlin
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- At the
inspiration of Jack Girling of Norwich and following a
particularly large local police operation with the
incarceration of several people without bail on conspiracy
charges, a meeting was held and the decision made to form
the CLCIA (Campaign to Legalise Cannabis International
Association). The aim was to campaign for the legalisation
of cannabis throughout the world and to secure the release
of all "cannabis prisoners" - a big task for them since they
lacked both financial resources and experience. The tactic
of the CLCIA was to run both political and educational
programmes. The CLCIA would try to field candidates in
elections in order to encourage a political debate.
The CLCIA was founded by these Norwich people: Jack Girling,
Tina Smith, Cathy Dugdale, Alun Buffry, John Davies, Bob
Wilton, Ingrid Waters, Martin Wyatt, John Adam, Charlie
Bristow and Alan H Smith. Howard Marks was an honorary
founding member (without his knowledge as he was still in
prison in the US after being kidnapped by the DEA).
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Despite the strong feelings of the group, the general political
climate at the time and fear of returning another Tory Government,
many were against standing in the General Election of 1992.
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Howard Marks
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- The
CLCIA introduced a membership fee a percentage of which was
banked towards funding future candidates, and in 1997, after
his release and return to the UK, Howard Marks consented to
standing on the legalisation of cannabis as a single issue
in both Norwich North and Norwich South, also in Southampton
Test and Neath constituencies. His vote ranged from 1% to
1.6% - not bad for a first time party with so little
funding!
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Buster Nolan
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- At that
election Buster Nolan stood in Braintree for the "New
Millennium, New Way Cannabis Party"
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Danny Tungate
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- The
next year, Danny Tungate stood on the same ticket in a local
Norwich ward and gained 7.5% of the vote!
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It
was early in 1999 before we realised the need to register as an
official UK political party with emblems, after the law had changed
on how a candidate would be described on ballot papers. The new
rules meant that any candidate not from a registered party could
only describe himself / herself as "Independent". We also realised
that if a new party used the name and emblem of the cannabis plant
and its leaf, then future candidates would be unable to do so. We
registered as a political party - the Legalise Cannabis Alliance -
with the leaf as our emblem. Because of the law, we needed to name a
leader - "for the purposes of registration only". Jack Girling took
that role temporarily and Alun Buffry became the party's Nominating
Officer - the guy who authorises the prospective candidates to use
the party name and emblem.
It did not take long to produce a set of
Principles, Aims and
Proposals, a
Manifesto (Cannabis: Legalise and Utilise) and to form an
Administrative Committee.
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Alun Buffry
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Alun Buffry became
the named "leader" (in name only) as well as Nominating Officer.
Hugh 'Shug' Robertson accepted the official post of Party Treasurer.
Later additions to the Executive (by Constitution a maximum of
seven) are Pete Henshall (Technical), Mark Gibson (Medical), and
Don Barnard
(Press Officer).
Preferring to attract endorsements to our Principles, Aims and
Proposals from members of all political persuasions and parties, we
opted for an endorsement
scheme rather than running an immediate membership.
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Norwich Group
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At
about that time we met with the local Norwich Green Party after they
had approached us claiming that their policies were the same as what
we wanted and we ought not to stand and risk splitting the vote. In
fact, we did make agreements to avoid certain wards although we were
not entirely satisfied with the Green Party for going back on that.
In May 1999 and again in 2000, we had candidates in the local
elections, with a god vote but once again we realised that our
problem was going to be in getting our supporters to the polls on
the day.
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Colin Paisley
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- In
November 1999, the LCA fought our first parliamentary
by-election when Colin Paisley, ex-Labour Party Mayor of
Carlisle, stood in Kensington and Chelsea - a Conservative
Party stronghold, against Michael Portillo and many other
candidates. Colin gained only 0.7% of the vote but we know
even that had a major influence on politics. This was
emphasised by Derrick Large took 1.1% of the vote in a
Romsey by-election in May 2002: previously though of as a
safe Tory seat, it was taken by the Liberal Democrats who
thanked Derrick for bringing such attention to the cannabis
issue.
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In
2001, the Legalise Cannabis Alliance fielded candidates in 13
constituencies in the General Election: Chris Baldwin (Worthing &
East Shoreham 2.1%); Alun Buffry (Norwich South 1.5%); Patman
Denning (Milton Keynes SW 1.2%), Mark Gibson (Penrith & The Border
2.0%), Leslie von Goetz (East Fife 1.2%), Linda Hendry (Edinburgh
South 1.4%), Derrick Large (Romsey 1.2%), Phil Lockwood (Calder
Valley 1.4%), Buster Nolan (Braintree 1.5%), Colin Paisley (Carlisle
1.6%), John Peacock (Workington 2.5%), Chris Philbin (Chelmsford
West 1.4%) and Carl Wagner (Hull North 1.7%). The vote ranged from
1% to 2.5% (John). In the local elections Emma O'Neill (Halton,
Appleton ward) scored over 7%, John Peacock (Solway Coast) gained
3.7%, Mark Gibson (Alston & East Fellside) 5.0% and Katie Tuff
(Stockbridge & Wellow) 3.5%
By the conclusion of that election the Legalise Cannabis Alliance
was established as a serious political force in the UK!
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The Aims
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- Our primary aim is to gain votes,
but it's also important to stand in elections in order to get our
message through people's doors. Our goal is the full legalisation of
cannabis rather than winning us enough seats to form a Government,
although our candidates in all elections would take the seat if they
won it.
Beyond legalisation, we would like to see the increased utilisation
of cannabis and its products for the betterment of society and the
world.
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- The
Successes
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- In addition to our election
successes, we believe we have had a major effect on the cannabis
policies of several other political parties who now favour
legalisation: The Liberal Democrats, The Green Party, The Socialist
Alliance, Plaid Cymru at least.
Our candidates and spokespeople have participated in numerous radio
and TV debates and interviews and had numerous letters and articles
published (see
http://www.ccguide.org.uk/lcapress.php).
- We have distributed almost 3/4
million fliers and spoken at major events and conferences. We were
invited to speak at the prestigious Oxford Union Debating Chamber
alongside MP's, give evidence to the Government's Home Affairs
Committees special inquiry into drugs policy, and participate on a
panel of experts at the Liverpool Cannabis Conference. We have
participated in a number of events ranging from academic
presentations at Universities to Smokey picnics and rallies.
In January 2008 we have over 3500 endorsements and now have a
membership scheme (See
http://www.lca-uk.org/join.php).
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Read our Manifesto - 64 page pdf document
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sign in support of our
policies
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See also
The Challenge
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Money Donations
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- Like most campaigns the Legalise
Cannabis Alliance cannot operate without funds, so raising money is
obviously very important and I will deal with that first. But there
are other ways that you can help, ranging from the occasional to the
frequent to the on-going.
- There are many ways that money can
be paid into the LCA Bank Account with NatWest.
1) Standing Order
- pay £2, £5, £25, whatever you can afford, direct from your own
bank account to the LCA - monthly, quarterly etc. Forms available
from the LCA on request.
2) Through NOCHEX using
your DEBIT card (not credit card) - this involves a simple
process of registering your Debit Card with NOCHEX (which is free)
and transferring the funds.
- See:
http://www.lca-uk.org/donate.php
- 3) Through PayPal see
http://www.lca-uk.org/donate.php
4) By paying into any branch of NatWest or your own bank, without
charge (other banks may charge a small fee): pay money to: LCA,
NatWest,, Norwich City Office, a/c no 23740116 sort code 60-15-31
5) By sending cash, cheques or postal orders (pay "LCA") or unused
postage stamps to LCA, PO Box 2883, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 9EE
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Raising Funds
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- There are various ways in which
you can help raise funds.
1) Collections amongst your friends and colleagues
2) Collection tins in local shops
3) Fund-raising events such as gigs, concerts, garden parties,
sponsored walks, runs, cycling, haircuts or even parachute jumping
4) You can buy No VICTIM NO CRIME stickers from us at �6.00 per 100
(6 pence each) and sell them for 10 pence each.
- OTHER HELP
- 1) Endorsees - encourage other
people to sign in support of our Principles, Aims and Proposals -
see LCA Endorsement
and to become members Join
Here
2) Petition -
collect names and either send the forms back to us or enter the
names on-line yourself (please only names of genuine supporters who
have signed a form and are aware that their name will appear on
line)
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http://www.ethical-business.com/petitions.asp?pet_id=34
3) Fliers - deliver
and / or hand out fliers in your area or at events.
Remember please that fliers are costly and therefore need to be
targeted to reach the right people: that is
- people who already support us but need to be encouraged to join
- general public
- students and those interested in the
USES of
cannabis or the
ORIGINS of prohibition
4) Arrange an information stall at events and distribute our
literature
5) Arrange a public meeting - we can usually provide some excellent
orators
6) Other events -
marches, rallies, smoky picnics
7) Write letters
to
your MP and the
local and national press. .
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- Help
We Need
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- 1) Local agents
2) People willing to speak to press, radio, TV
3) Graphic designers, poster and flier designers
4) TV and radio spokespersons
5) Flier distributors
We need ideas to help get our message through to members of the
public and eventually persuade the politicians to legalise cannabis
and put people first.
We hope that you can help in any of the above ways - let us know -
or if you have ideas of your own or skills to offer.
Please get in touch with us
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Legalise Cannabis
Alliance
PO Box 2883, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 9EE
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http://www.lca-uk.org
lca@lca-uk.org
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