Softsecrets EN

coming soon  ,,, HMPrison UK Report

abstract:

This is now my friend’s third sentence in a HMP facility. Like many professional suppliers of cannabis in the UK, what started out with supplying a few friends with a few eighths grew into a few ounces. After the first sentence this manifested into supplying local dealers with a few kilos. After the second sentence this finally escalated into a few hundred kilos – until capture upon his most recent sentence. In this sense my friend could be described as ‘a habitual criminal that seeks to make profit from his profession, while taking imprisonment as a mere consequence of his line of work’.   

See SSUK2:2010 for the full report

 

Enjoy

Lazy

Some photos from the UK Hemp Expo 2009

Full report in SSUK6:2009

 

 

Enjoy

Lazy

Interview with Pinky Starr – UK Medi. Activist

 

When did you first start using cannabis medicinally?

Back in 1999 I had a disc rupture in my lower back, this caused me horrid pain. The NHS took a while to stabilize my pain with there treatments. When they sorted my medication out I didn’t need to use cannabis until the 2nd non fault car crash where an old man drove into us for no reason. i received a bad whiplash which lead to the discovery of a damaged spinal chord and nerve problems from the rta

Did you ever try cannabis recreationally before then?

When I was younger I used cannabis recreationally. I was like most teenagers I didn’t believe what I had been told by everyone which was that all drugs are bad for you. After seeing friends week after week getting stoned and going back to good jobs the next day I wondered what it would be like to use cannabis. Like most people I did find cannabis a lot more enjoyable to use than alcohol.

 

How does cannabis use help your condition?

Without cannabis I’m in a bed ridden state crying uncontrollably with severe neurological pain which morphine only takes the slightest edge off. I have even asked my doctor about euthanasia before as episodes without cannabis left me unable to put up with the pain I was suffering. Cannabis improves my way of life so well. I’m able to put up with the pain, even though the pain is always there, my levels of movement greatly improve with the use of cannabis and cannabis gives me a better way of life all-round

Does one variety or type of cannabis help better than others?

I personally find some cannabis varieties don’t help me as much as others. The best cannabis I find to use for my pain at the moment is white Russian. This gives me a nice high while helping to control my pain and muscle spasms and doesn’t knock me out.

Could you substitute herbal cannabis and cannabis resin with the pharmaceutical cannabis derivative Sativex as a form of medication effectively?

I have had setivex given me by my doctor, the results from the cannabis where fantastic but I got refused a licence and have had to self medicate again since

I would rather be allowed to grow cannabis and make my own creams, tinctures and vaporise as needing to

Would prescription medication that is cannabis based help? Or is such medication only tailored to wards specific conditions?

I dont care where the cannabis comes from, its the only drug that helps me control my conditions. I don’t want to make people rich from a natural plant. We should all be allowed to grow our own cannabis and medicate ourselves without the fear of prosecution.

What do you find is the best method of administering doses of cannabis?

I vaporise cannabis now and since I got my I-inhale vaporiser from the uk hemp expo, I have not had to rely on tobacco since. I’m now smoke free and feeling a lot better and my cannabis seems to last longer now I use vaporisers. If inhaling isn’t enough pain relief I don’t go for my bottle of morphine any more. I reach out for my cannabis cream and tinctures now. Since using the creams etc I have not had to get to the stage of using morphine again. Without cannabis I have no choice but to take opoids for the pain I suffer. Cannabis gives me a new lease of life in a world where my pain can be managed and i’m able to get up from a bed ridden suicidal state

How does the money raised, say from the raffles, help the cause?

So far each of the protest has cost around £2000 each to pull off. The setup costs of protest London was around £2k this was to set up the foundations. £6000 later I’m unable to get a answer from our government to why they want to lock me and other cannabis users up for 5years in prison when we are causing no trouble to others! The money raised from the tombola’s and donations help to fund/ keep the protests going. To protest legally in the UK licences are needed and advertisements and stationary costs are our biggest drain of funds. Now with the help of soft secrets and others the word will spread and the protests will get bigger and better as they continue till we get what we should be able to legally do, to be able to use cannabis without the fear of prosecution

Who came up with the idea of pulling a long line of moonies at the PM outside No.10?

The Moonie at number 10 was my idea backed up by a few of the members of the protest London team. I/we wanted a cheeky way of asking the question to Gordon Brown without getting arrested but at the same time get noticed. We decided a clean Moonie was a good cheeky way of putting the question across to the Prime Minister Gordon Brown. he was sent a copy in the post

Not many people can say they smoked a spiff on Downing Street (well done). Did you suffer any harassment for this?

No everyone loves the photo of me on number 10 including myself. I also told Jacqui smith via her local papers I would smoke a spiff under her nose in her own town, she was not there to witness this so the papers published a photo front page of me defying her laws in her own constituency!

Please tell us about the event you recently helped organise in Redditch.

Jacqui smith stated at her reclassification speech that as for medicinal users who spend a lot of money on cannabis every month to improve there medical conditions should go and get more help from the NHS or go to prison for 5 years. This hurt me and others. If Jacqui smith had done some research before ignoring the acmd council, she would have realised that thousands of people write to her about cannabis for medicinal reasons as the national heath service NHS has failed and cannot help control our conditions. We are left to go and find back street dealers to control our conditions as they can’t! Medicinal users and recreational users need a regular clean access to cannabis as the grit weed available in the UK is harming people. Grit weed had also put me in hospital as my body had an allergic reaction to the contaminates contained on the cannabis bud I had smoked!

The home office wrote to me stating that cannabis is ok for certain medical users but is harmful to other users. The government have no right to say yes to some users and no to others. This is why I stood up for recreational users too, I stand up to unite all medicinal and recreational users to unite and fight this unjust law. We the users are the only victim in this unjust law

Do you think that trade fairs, like the recent UK Hemp Expo, help or hinder the medi. Community in the UK?

This is the first time I have ever been to a hemp expo and all I can say is wow. Thank you weed world. Without this event I would have not been introduced to vaporisers. I’m now smoke free and I hold a lot more knowledge about hemp and cannabis from others. The UK should have more markets like the hemp expo. I would love to see outdoor hemp markets once a month outdoors open to the public. I may even look into this myself as part of the future protests

What information / tips / advice would you share with other medi. Cannabis users?

Please feel free to contact me with any medical questions via www.protestlondon.co.uk or email me at protestlondon@yahoo.com if I can’t help then i’m sure others will. Please feel free to visit the protest London forums and try making your own cannabis cream, it works great. I also recommend making the effort to go to hemp expos just so people can gain knowledge of what’s new on the market to make out lives easier.

How else can recreational users get involved or help?

If any recreation or medicinal users would like to help please visit www.protestlondon.co.uk to find out about us. Prizes donated towards fundraising and donations towards funding and paying off debts are all gratefully received. £5k visa bill awaits payment. When this gets paid we have more money to make future protest bigger and better and more fun

We would like to get more businesses involved. People who help us are offered free advertisement via our website and to larger supporters we offer to fly banners etc at protests and offer a full advertisment on our website.

If people can help us with printing of posters/ flyers and banners etc this would be appreciated. Of course people who help can be repaid by advertisements etc.

We also require help on the days, and the run ups to the protests. Please let us know if you think you can help in any way and please keep donations for the tombolas etc coming as they all help to raise much needed funds for the protests to continue.

Know your rights

At present the UK does NOT have a constitutional bill of rights.

The Human Rights Act 1998 does however clearly state that legislation must fall into line with the European Convention on Human Rights:

Article 2 protects the right of every person to their life.

Article 5 provides that everyone has the right to liberty.

Article 9 provides a right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Article 10 provides the right to freedom of expression.

Article 11 protects the right to freedom of assembly and association

Protocol 1, Article 1 alone provides for the rights to the peaceful enjoyment of one’s possessions.

Enjoy

Lazystrain

The Soft Secrets Halloween pumpkin competition is now an annual event that takes place over on the Soft Secrets Forum.

What started off as a bit of fun to entertain the moderator team during the autumn months quickly turned into a full blown competition in 2008. Although many members still had problems focusing their cameras (myself included) , the overall standard of the entries last year was much higher than expected. Several members displayed a real flare in the kitchen with a carving knife, and were justly gifted a few packets of seeds as prizes.

Here is the 2008 winning image by roxy

 

Since the recent forum change and makeover, Soft Secrets online competitions have now been given their own subforum : http://www.softsecrets.nl/forum/viewforum.php?f=58

Back by popular demand, the closing date for the Soft Secrets Halloween pumpkin competition 2009 is Nov 5th.  We look forward to seeing some of your enteries online.
Enjoy 

lazystrain

Herbal Ethics 2

 

By lazystrain

 

 

‘Herbal Ethics’ was a column relating to cannabis use in the UK. It was the first column I penned, and was published in Soft Secrets a few years back. ‘Herbal Ethics 2’ is the sequel concerning itself with the present state of Coffeeshop Culture in Amsterdam.

 

Having not visited the Netherlands for myself in a good couple of years, it must be made clear that the following is based on my own hazy recollections and memoirs – as well as feedback from friends who have visited Amsterdam’s coffeeshop scene more recently.

 

In 1993, George Ritzer described a paradigm in the title of his book ‘The McDonaldization of Society’; whereby the rational basis of a global society is reduced to a series of token models in a Marxist-Weberian sense. The value-basis of anything can be reduced to nothing when the craftsperson looses the comprehension to communicate the skill in their craft. Similar to Fordism the worker becomes alienated from knowledge and skill, and is therefore reduced to nothing more than a cog in the wheels of a prefabricated piece of machinery. In reality the worker can no longer recognize their own reality, beyond that which a capitalist society has created for them.

 

Unfortunately the coffeeshop industry in the Netherlands has also fallen foul to this same process of “McDonaldization’.

 

 

Looking back to my first visit to a coffeeshop in Amsterdam, it must be said that it was an ‘under-counter’ affair. There was little indication as how to obtain cannabis from the coffeeshop; even when stood inside asking the barman for indication and directions to the point of sale. The bag of grass I purchased was from a non-descript lady stood behind a small wooden counter, with a non-descript menu attached. I was stood in the corner of the Leidseplein’s most famous coffeeshop – The Bull Dog. The gram bag of ‘Sensi Skunk’ cost around 20 guilders (about 6 pounds sterling at the time). To my knowledge, this was the first time I had ever smoked hydroponically grown cannabis – and I certainly had never heard of the variety of cannabis I was smoking before.

 

Alternatively, looking back on my last trip to a coffeeshop in Amsterdam, it must be said that it had become a strictly ‘over-counter’ affair. There was ever indication on how to find and purchase cannabis from within the coffeeshop – mainly due to the long line of patrons waiting to be served. Coffeeshops had since incorporated purpose built weed-counters, sales booths and garish plastic seating arrangements into the interior design. Many coffeeshops had simply lost their original atmosphere and appeal.

 

The bags of grass cost me between 15-20 euros (around 10-15 pounds sterling at the time); which is a lot more expensive than the price for the same quality product in the UK! I was mostly aware of the famous, heavily marketed, cup winning, varieties of cannabis I was buying and smoking. More worryingly, within certain coffeeshops I seemed to know a little bit more about the varieties of cannabis on offer than the people behind the ‘weed counter’ did! This concerned me slightly, since had I not had prior knowledge they could have been selling me anything – including glass weed!

 

In less than ten years, between my first visit to Amsterdam, and my last visit to Amsterdam several things had dramatically changed. Firstly, the price of a gram of cannabis had increased by 50%. Secondly, the quality of cannabis available had diminished to the point that much of what was on offer was falsely or incorrectly labeled (some may argue fraudulently advertised) at point of sale. (Some samples looked like the trim growers usually make water hash from!) Thirdly, the level of enthusiasm and intelligence displayed by coffeeshop workers had gone from friendly, knowledgeable, and energetic, all the way down-hill to miserable, money hungry, and in places negative or ignorant towards cannabis and its culture.  

 

As another example, building No. 7 Spuistraat is one of the most long standing coffeeshops in Amsterdam. It’s on any Coffeeshop Smoker’s Map. If I am ever in Amsterdam, then I like to pass by, catch up on the menu, and see what’s happening.

 

The first time I visited this small coffeeshop in Amsterdam it was called ‘7^th Heaven’. The lady that owned the shop was very kind and knowledgeable, polite and friendly. We were chilling in what appeared to be her home. I could hear her children playing with their toys in a back room somewhere. We bought 10 grams of Super Skunk for 100 guilders and a slice of Super Skunk Cake each. We ate and drank, smoked and got very merry. We thanked the lady for her hospitality and kindness, leaving a friendly tip on the way out the door.     

 

The last time I visited this same small coffeeshop in Amsterdam it had changed owners and is now called ‘The Bulldog Lounge’. The man that worked in the shop was for want of a better word ‘a pirate’ – he was not very polite or friendly. We didn’t get the opportunity to find out how knowledgeable he was since he was most interested in taking our money. We bought 1 gram of excellent quality ‘Super Haze’ for around 20 euros. We asked for x2 drinks also.

 

He then proceeds to do that trick where you pay the money for the grass, and he serves you the drinks before the grass arrives 5mins later. (I’ve always wondered why they do this but never came up with a valid answer). As English Tourists we can only assume that this is either an old Dutch custom or just a method of inducing lightweight smokers towards mental breakdown – presumably so that the coffeeshop workers can laugh at them (?)  Being seasoned smokers, after handing over 20 euros all we want is the product! So we sit down, smoke the weed, drink our drinks and get up to leave.

 

The man is waiting at the door. “You owe me!” he barks, stepping out aggressively across the doorway. After several objections, my friend suggests that perhaps we didn’t pay for our drinks after all (which I’d thought he did, since I bought the weed). No problem. I walk back to the bar and ask “How much do we owe you?”, “6 euros” he retorts. So I give him a 10 euro note. The man places the 10 euro note into his till and slams it shut. “I guess that must be his tip.” I said to my friend as we laughed our way out the door.

Personal and Commercial Cannabis Cultivation UK.

 

By lazystrain

 

As far as Cannabis is concerned my own stance on the subject has for many years been clear.

 

Firstly, lazystrain supports “decriminalization” over “legalization”. I personally believe that it makes absolutely no sense to persecute adults for using cannabis; a naturally occurring plant; which is proven far less harmful to society than both alcohol and tobacco. Legislation can therefore follow decriminalization, as far as I am concerned.

 

Secondly, moreover, I fully support the role of Cannabis for Medicinal application, by adults. Who according to the UN Charter on Human Rights, are well within their human rights to openly grow and consume their own cannabis plants, should they wish to do so for medicinal use - without need for approval, license, or permission from anyone other than themselves.

 

Thirdly, and as importantly, I support that notion that the mainstream public (and especially children) require much more education about the virtues of sensible use, and the negative effects of mindless abuse, surrounding the cannabis plant within society. Without this building block Cannabis Culture cannot and will not move forward.

 

- – -

 

 

In a bid to help decriminalize cannabis use, and after a long discussion with a close colleague, I therefore propose that which has no doubt already been voiced by many, in as simple a manner as I can:

 

1.    Personal Cannabis (including that which is shared with family and friends) should be decriminalized forthwith in the UK.

 

2.    Commercial Cannabis (including all that is sold for profit) should be legislated and subject to taxation forthwith in the UK.

 

3.    A Community Service order should be served to anyone caught breaking the terms of condition 2 in the UK.

 

4.    A short Custodial Sentence and revoke of license for ANYONE caught selling cannabis to minors (under 18s) should be served in the UK.

 

 

Following the model above several things would it is hoped be possible in the UK.

 

a.     Personal users would be free to regulate their own consumption of cannabis via their own methods of cultivation in their own homes without fear of persecution, stigma, or injustice.

 

b.     Commercial Growers would be open to register their details as a legitimate tax paying business, submitting invoices to Inland Revenue at the point of sale to Commercial Outlets.

 

c.     Commercial Outlets would in turn be open to apply for a license to trade in the distribution of cannabis via registered social clubs / coffeeshops / chemists / and off-licenses. Hence purchasing their products from the licensed growers above in b.

 

d.     The sale of Cannabis to minors (under 18s) would gradually diminish.

 

e.     The criminality currently associated with cannabis would gradually diminish.

 

 

Using this two tier system, akin to present home-brewing laws in the UK, based on ‘Personal’ and ‘Commercial’ guidelines of consumption, purchase, and sale, then those that wish to proffer from cannabis could continue to do so legally – just as those that wish to buy cannabis, while paying taxes to the government could do so – thus akin to the existing system that local food producers adopt when selling produce with a ‘market gardeners license’ to buyers.

 

Those that simply wish to “grow their own” could of course continue to do so, without criminalization, submitting any details, or being subject to any form of taxation  - as is the current case with anyone that grows their own vegetables at home in the UK.

 

It’s not a complex theory.

 

 

 

 

Enjoy

 

Lazy

The Soft Secrets Forum – Refreshed and Updated

 

The Soft Secrets Forum @ www.softsecrets.nl/forum/  has been refreshed and updated.

 

Traditionally the layout of the Soft Secrets Forum was designed by the members of the Forum. If and when a new sub-forum was required by the members then the Administrator just added another category or two to the main page and everyone was happy. As the forum developed, more and more people joined the site. With the help of Soft Secrets readers the Forum developed its very own uniquely European vibe.   

 

The Soft Secrets Forum has suffered from some of the technical glitches that any internet forum goes through with popularity, mainly relating to logging on and the popular chat room facility – which cyber-gremlins seem to have temporarily invaded. Thankfully the dedicated team of moderators didn’t smash up their keyboards completely during this time and kept coming back every few days or weeks to keep an eye on what was happening across the forum.

 

Recently one of our most regular forum members ‘dokkie’ stepped up to the immense challenge of sorting everything out. He has since taken the forum firmly by its control panel and given it a truly good rewiring.

 

Major changes include a whole forum section dedicated to Soft Secrets Italy members. Some old members have also rejoined the Soft Secrets Forum as new moderators. New sub-forums including ‘Awareness’, ‘Smoke Signals’, ‘Competitions’ ‘Harvesting’, ‘After Harvesting’, ‘Products’ and ‘Plant Science’ have been added to the existing list of forums including; ‘Medi. Care’, ‘Bud Shots’, ‘Reader’s Photos Published’, ‘Readers Photos Unpublished’, plus many more. Although some sections may have been subjected to a name change, we can guarantee that the content of the forum is still the same as it ever was – it’s just now a lot easy to find.   

 

The Soft Secrets Forum is easy and FREE to join. All Administration requires is that members are over 16 years of age, with an email address, and are open-minded towards rational topics (and sometimes debates) surrounding cannabis cultivation and cannabis culture. There is a list of “Forum Rules” someplace, although in the whole history of the forum (so far) these rules have only been exercised on a few occasions. The Soft Secrets Forum is then an open place where members of the cannabis community can get together and have fun.

     

The Soft Secrets Forum is once again expanding in all the right directions. With plans to add further sub-forums to each existing section and fix up the chat room link – with the help of dokkie, the Soft Secrets moderators, and most importantly Soft Secrets online members, the forum will develop itself beyond just another European forum into a Global forum very soon!

 

We look forward to meeting some of you online.

 

enjoy

lazystrain

Sarah Martin – Medi. Cannabis Activist UK

 

Medi. Activist, Contaminated Cannabis Campaigner, and the Lady that advises Medi Cannabis Users in the UK to “not be afraid”, Sarah Martin has set out single handedly on a mission to help implement dramatic changes to medical cannabis laws across the land.

 

Having launched the UK’s first Medical Cannabis Testimonial site online, Sarah has reached a growing audience of cannabis users and non-users by broadcasting her very own videos on youtube.com and other file sharing sites. As a Charity Fund Raiser Sarah Martin also takes part in sponsored runs (walking them as she can no longer run) up and down the country – (dressed as a couple cannabis leaves) – some of which are 10 kilometers long!

 

The Great North Run was clearly too long for Sarah at more than 13 miles, although she completed it in just over 4 hours. Despite this immense task she got loads of positive support from people who announced themselves as “Growers” as she passed them in the street. Even a female police officer looked Sarah Martin in the eye and said “You are right! It should be legal”!

 

Considering Sarah’s own medical condition as a Multiple Scleroses sufferer her enthusiasm to make positive change from negative situations truly reflects her own grit and determination. Many female cannabis campaigners in the UK have already been likened to the Suffragettes. In this respect Sarah Martin is no different. Besides being full of admiration for the work that Sarah personally does on the UK Medi front, Soft Secrets were also keen to highlight the effects that Cannabis laws in the UK hold over her lifestyle, mental and physical wellbeing. 

 

 

 

SSUK : When did you first start using cannabis?

 

Sarah: I went to boarding school and everything was middle class and sanitized. To be honest, I was quite an eccentric character and began to reject the middle class values that were being preached. So I started socializing with people from the ‘real world’. I found that working class people, from the local town, were more interesting, open and diverse. At 16 I was passed a joint in a local park and I liked it. I liked it a lot! I loved Art and Woodwork and I loved the way it influenced my ideas.

 

 

Were you aware of the medicinal benefits of cannabis before this?

 

Like the majority, I had absolutely no idea of medicinal value until I was diagnosed with Multiple Scleroses at the age of 33. I’d heard of elderly people using it for arthritis but did not have the knowledge to differentiate it from the pain dulling effects of alcohol. I was very aware of how differently it affected my emotional state, but was surprised when a friend suggested I could use it as a medicine.

 

When I was diagnosed I wasn’t sure if the cannabis was making my symptoms worse or not, so I gave it up. Then I did some research on the subject and my life was instantly transformed and I’ve never looked back.

 

MS strips the Myelin layer from the nerves almost as if they have been attacked with a cheese grater. This layer is the essential insulation that stops signals from leaking into or out of the nerves. The THC in cannabis seems to simulate some of this insulation. I’ve been permanently medicated now for over a year and it has clearly allowed my body to rest and heal. I can’t remember feeling this good!

 

I was fit before I was diagnosed and was even a snowboarder. I think I may have to get the board wax out again and strap the old board on. Tamworth snow dome is only 20 minutes away! I’m definitely going to start climbing again this summer too!

 

 

How does cannabis help with the symptoms of your medical condition?

 

There are so many different symptoms that not one Multiple Scleroses patient shares the same combination as another. My main symptom is fatigue and cannabis certainly helps me with that. Then you have numbness, stiff limbs/joints, loss of balance, nausea, impaired vision, pins and needles, cramps, shooting pains and mood swings to name a few. For me, cannabis removes about 50% of the discomfort of each symptom. That’s enough for so many people like me to risk arrest as opposed to using harmful and expensive pharmaceuticals at an expense of our health and the tax payer. 

 

Cannabis helps me retain my dignity and quality of life. Every chronically sick person in Britain deserves the right to choose cannabis as medicine. When I was officially diagnosed, my neurologist told me to avoid pharmaceuticals and investigate every other option available to me. I followed Doctors Orders! Is that really so criminal?

 

Which varieties of cannabis do you find help best with your Multiple sclerosis?

 

Because my MS symptoms affect me emotionally as well as physically, I find the Hazes to be the most effective. However, when physical pain is at its worst, I prefer some nice Afghan resin. When I need to escape into a deep sleep I use an indica strain like Train Wreck, Mt Cook, or similar.

 

 

Why do you think cannabis is prohibited in the UK?

 

Cannabis is illegal because politicians enjoy oppressing minorities and seem to see a prohibitive approach as essential to modern society. Clearly, they’ve got it wrong and if you ask me, politicians are the gateway that drives many of us to reach for the joint or the bottle. Perpetuating the myths and supporting the law displays nothing but ignorance and a complete inability to govern Britain.

 

 

Does ‘fear of arrest’ by the police prevent you from medicating the way you’d like to?

 

Of course it does! I dream of the day when I can just pop down to the chemist shop for my medicine instead of driving the length and breadth of Britain to find ‘clean weed’. Everyday I go through anxiety caused by the possibility of a visit from the police. This does my already battered nervous system no good at all. The only small comfort I get is in knowing that I’m not alone in my struggles. 

 

 

What are your feelings about being forced to use contaminated cannabis?

 

The contamination caused by prohibition has been horrific for many Medi users. I myself have suffered sinus infections and mood swings too horrendous to be seen as normal to my MS. I had to use Grit Weed to recover from the Great North Run, but fortunately it was only sand that was added. None of the medicinal value was masked or lost and so it helped greatly.

 

I resent paying for sand as well as medicine. Grit Weed is like a tax that leaves a bad taste in your mouth and makes you feel sick. I can’t work anymore so my medicine is paid for with benefit payments. This is far from an ideal situation. 

 

 

How has the charity runs helped to get the message about Medicinal Cannabis out?

 

It has inspired many, although that wasn’t my initial intention. I wanted to motivate recreational and medicinal users to the activist level they are at in the United States. Clearly, this was a futile attempt and now I find enjoyment inspiring sick people to exercise their way to an improved level of health. I also offer advice on how to best medicate with Cannabis from cooking to making body creams. People are amazed with how much their health improves and their pain is relieved with cannabis use. Also, all the money I raised walking these events goes to good causes including a children’s charity.

 

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Newcastle and South Shields for their amazing reception and support of me. A big thank you to a guy called Steve who, after reading of my efforts on the LCA forums, met me towards the end in South Shields. He was just sat waiting with his bike on a traffic island and gave me a quick lift of half a mile or so. We lost each other in the crowds at the finish and I’ve not heard from him since. Where ever you are Steve, THANK YOU!

 

 

Which ways can fellow activists get involved in the struggle to decriminalize cannabis for medicinal use in the UK?

 

I make an effort to show cannabis being used as a force for good. I suggest others do the same. Opinion is changing, especially within the media. Out of the blue the BBC recently interviewed me. So did a leading middle class ladies magazine because of the message I’m broadcasting.

 

I have a channel at www.youtube.com/user/SarahSoulFood where I keep a testimonial and activist videos. On FaceBook at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14215335069 , and I also have a testimonial group on MySpace.

 

After two years, I’m still the only member. In the US there are an abundance of online medical testimonials and this has resulted in many states decriminalizing medical cannabis use. Why don’t we have this dedication in Britain? You tell me! Maybe we are too reserved, but surely it’s not that hard to overcome. It’s certainly not as hard a living without effective medication!

 

I was recently selected to take part in a BBC Citizenship series. The programs were produced to promote debate amongst school children. It will be broadcast at 04.00am Tuesday 16TH June and will be available online afterwards.

 

My next 10k event is the Asics 10K London Run which takes place on July 12th. For each of the events, I put together a JustGiving webpage where I collect donations. This particular event is for Release as I feel it’s time to support those arrested in this ugly war. 

 

You can donate at  http://www.justgiving.com/sarah_martin4medical_cannabis

                  

 

Despite my semi-public image, the police have shown no interest in me. I’m not selling to children for profit and I make that quite clear. I’m not the “criminal” they need to waste time and taxes on.

 

 

How can the non-cannabis using public get involved?

 

This is a tough question to answer. Get involved in any way you can! Write in to newspapers, magazines and television companies. We all need to show the non-using public that we are concerned for society and angry at slanderous media and political coverage. If I were a parent, I’d be worried about cannabis being categorized with Methamphetamine!! Cannabis is virtually harmless. The latter is not! What kind of a message are we sending to children? Do we not value them as the citizens of the future? We’re letting them have a rough ride and I am nothing but appalled that this has been allowed to continue for so long.

 

 

Do you think that ‘Medi. Clubs’, like those in California, are a good idea or not?

 

Absolutely! Medi clubs and testimonials are what Britain needs most (see above). 

 

 

How could membership of a Medi. Club in the UK help?

 

It would give an opportunity for sick people to unite and be educated in the medicinal values of cannabis. The larger the club the more media attention and lobby potential it will create. Visibility is what we need next!

 

 

Soft Secrets would like to thank Sarah Martin for this interview and we wish her all the very best in the future.

Youth Culture 2

 

Every now and then Soft Secrets likes to focus on the subject of youths and cannabis. A large number of the UK’s ‘Under 18’s’, rightfully or wrongfully, for one reason or another, choose to experiment with cannabis in their early teens. Whilst openly supporting the use of cannabis for both medicinal and recreational use by freethinking adults, Soft Secrets does NOT however condone the use or abuse of mind-altering substances by minors. Let’s make that clear before we continue.  

 

The reality of the matter is that teenagers in the UK do use (and abuse) mind-altering substances, one of which is cannabis. As cannabis using adults we should then hold more of a moral responsibility towards educating both teenagers and non-cannabis using adults about some of the realities that surround cannabis and its culture.

 

Most teenagers first discover cannabis as a result of their local pier-group. Studies show that schools, colleges, youth clubs, and domestic parties are the most likely place teenagers will first discover cannabis outside of the home. Typically, the supply of cannabis to teenagers is conducted by teenagers – often members of the same pier-group. After which, experience shows that most teenagers are prepared to travel beyond their own locality in search of a better deal or higher grade of cannabis. At which point the youthful teenager usually enters into a completely different world dominated by adults.

 

Most people, in their right mind, would agree that it makes absolutely no sense to persecute young people for experimenting with cannabis – which is proven far less harmful to society than other abusive legal substances including alcohol and tobacco. Most people would also agree that it is perfectly unacceptable for adults to sell cannabis to minors. In order for ‘younger teenagers’ to get hold of cannabis they must usually deal with ‘older teenagers’, who in turn deal with ‘young adults’, who usually deal with ‘fully grown adults’; unless the young adults are home growing.

 

Teenagers are arguably the smartest people on the planet. They think fast, allow their ambitions to override their inhibitions, and are highly inquisitive. When teenagers find something that is secretly covered up then they wish to un-cover it. When something is prohibited then they wish to rebel against it. If you “Just Say No” to a teenager, then they are likely to say “Yes. Please” and have it. Such is the nature of being a free-spirited teenager that rules aren’t always there to be followed.   

 

This doesn’t mean children should ever be encouraged to use or deal with cannabis – quite the opposite. Since it is evident that teenagers first come into contact with cannabis in the places they most often frequent, places of education and recreation, it makes sense that any investigation into “why” teenagers continue to use cannabis after experimenting with it, (and how they come to possess it) needs to start there. Not with the fully grown adults that already use cannabis and are fully aware of its effects upon younger members of their community.

 

In the Netherlands where cannabis is “tolerated” teenagers are encouraged to openly debate the subject of cannabis with their pier-group – without stigma. The majority of who decide that cannabis is perhaps not the best option until they are old enough to make rational decisions for themselves. ‘Pier-Pressure’ is the reverse as it is in the UK, whereby the majority of teenagers in the Netherlands decide that cannabis isn’t “cool” and so experiment with cannabis at a much later stage in their mental development.

 

One of the main reasons why a coffeeshop system (similar to that in Holland) would be so beneficial to UK society is that it would help reduce the inquisitiveness surrounding cannabis as a taboo subject amid teenagers. Although still prohibited it is far more difficult to rebel against a substance that is openly decriminalized. Unlike the sale of alcohol and tobacco which still ends up in the hands of minors in the UK, laws surrounding the sale of cannabis to minors should be rigorously enforced – with mandatory community service for anyone caught bending the rules.

 

This would allow fully grown adults to trade cannabis with fully grown adults again. Hopefully teenagers could get back to their studies, culture their minds further, and take over the world when they start smoking cannabis at a later age, as adults. Apologies if any of the above sounds ageist to those old enough to raise children, old enough to work, old enough to pay taxes, old enough to join the army, but still not old enough to vote. The required membership age on the Soft Secrets Forum is 16 for this reason.

 

Enjoy your teenage years, have fun, and always wear a condom!