The Challenge Intro
If society is to achieve any success in its effort to reduce personal and social damage through drugs use, we must continually re-examine our own understanding and attitudes to drug use, misuse and abuse. It is worth noting that the overwhelming majority of those who use cannabis are not "problem users" and "normal" use ought not be labelled as "abuse".
We also need to examine the successes, failures and costs of past and present control regimes.
Can we really justify punishing people for cannabis possession or growing a few plants when clearly neither individual nor society benefits through the prosecutions?
How does the implementation of law conflict with Human Rights, harm reduction and good policing?
Above all, it is essential to instigate a continuing dialogue between government, drug agencies, police AND users.
We need to create a just and workable legislation that reduces harm from drugs without infringing upon personal privacy and the right to choose ones own lifestyle and beliefs.
We need legislation that is aimed at PROTECTION, not control.
To achieve this, we encourage:
a) A truly open and honest dialogue among professionals, government, the public and the cannabis using community
b) Meaningful discussions on whether it would be preferable to have a system of licensed cannabis retail outlets incorporating all necessary quality control and harm reduction provisions, rather than criminal supply chains that seem unstoppable.
c) Discussion between Government, employers and workers representatives (TUC) on the value, reliability, cost and the need for universal testing for recent past cannabis use.
To ensure constructive consultation we invite you to reproduce this document [unedited] and forward to anyone expressing a prior interest.
Legalise Cannabis Alliance
March 2003
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