The Legalise Cannabis Alliance exists to campaign for the legalisation of Cannabis and for the reintroduction of Hemp into society.
Cannabis (Hemp) is a plant that grows naturally throughout much of the world. Over half of the UK's population have used Cannabis at least once and according to a recent study published in the Lancet medical journal over 8% of the population were found to be regular users. In the same study Cannabis was listed as a safer drug than both alcohol and tobacco.
We believe the prohibition of Cannabis has had a counterproductive effect on attempts to control its usage and has actually exacerbated any attempts to reduce the harm of the drug. I.e. the illegality discouraging addicted users from seeking help. Users often find that their own experiences with the drug do not correlate with the dangers touted in the press and by the government when pushing the War on Drugs.
We believe that there is no logical reason to legally allow people to use alcohol and tobacco but not cannabis, since the social and economic benefits of legalising Cannabis completely outweigh the dangers of the drug (including its selectively bred hybrid cousins, i.e. Skunk). When we consider that there are already a huge number of people using it, mostly to no ill effect to anyone else other than to their selves.
These people hold down jobs in all professions, are from all social groupings and we believe it to be completely immoral to class them alongside criminals. Subsequently we believe it should be up to the individual to decide whether he or she uses Cannabis, whether for medicinal, recreational or religious reasons. Even simply for experimenting with ones own consciousness.
The plant itself has many different non-psychoactive uses and there were thousands upon thousands of fields of Hemp growing all over the world, until we all got drafted into the US led War on Drugs. After which, the overwhelming majority of Europe's Hemp fields were destroyed. Hemp's usefulness is found in its benefits as a fast growing crop in most weather conditions, as a food source, for its fibres and in the production of bio-fuels. People who want to grow Hemp currently need to get a government license and we feel this restricts the economy of a potentially very useful plant. Fortunately there is currently a revival to some degree of Hemp farming virtually all over the world, except the United States.
Society President: Levent
Vice-President and Secretary: Graham
Email: luulca@hotmail.co.uk
Facebook Group: For more information on the society please see our facebook group, 'LCA on Campus' http://leedsac.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2258073300
