Norml UK are working tirelessly to influence change to the UK’s current laws regarding Cannabis use. We believe that consumption of Cannabis should be regulated in a similar way to Alcohol and Tobacco, and the millions of peaceful Cannabis users should not be criminalised. Even more importantly, the many medicinal users of Cannabis that find relief from many symptoms should no longer be denied the medicine that works for them.

At the beginning of this year, the states of Colorado and Washington in America legalised Cannabis. Colorado has already reaped millions in taxes that would otherwise have been fed into a ‘criminal’ market, and the crime rate has dropped considerably.

Not forgetting Uruguay, where Cannabis has been legalised throughout the country.

Norml UK believe changes can, and should, be made in the UK to follow in the footsteps of these places, or adopt an approach similiar to the Netherlands or Spain, where Cannabis can be bought and consumed in coffeeshops, and private social clubs respectively.

The biggest event so far this year was the 420 gathering in Hyde Park. On 20th April, an estimated 7,000 people braved the pouring rain to smoke openly in defiance of unjust laws and to hear speeches from some of the Norml UK board members, as well as from UK Cannabis Social Clubs.

Our band of volunteers braved the elements and manned a stall just outside the gates where they spent the day educating passers by and answering questions from intrigued members of the public. A large number of new members were gained, and hopefully some peoples views changed.

Our efforts didn’t stop there though, and we have since supported the annual Global Cannabis March in Cardiff on May 3rd, and the Weed Wars Cannabis Picnic in Reading on May 4th. On both days we signed up many new members, and again hopefully corrected some misconceptions about Cannabis.

We are now busy putting together our AGM, which will be held on the weekend of 31st May in partnership with United Kingdoms Cannabis Social Clubs. Tickets for the 2 day event can be purchased here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/norml-uk-agm-ukcsc-agm-and-norml-uk-women-s-alliance-launch-tickets-11354005135

The weekend will also see the launch of Norml UK’s Womens Alliance, seeking to involve more women in the movement for law reform,

We will continue to organise and support events calling for an end to the criminalisation of Cannabis, and call on everyone to come out and support a call for change. Nobody would have predicted America to be the first country to dramatically soften its approach to Cannabis, and more states are likely to follow in the footsteps of Colorado and Washington in the coming months and years.

The work behind the scenes is also continuing, we have and will continue to meet with members of parliament and parliamentary committees to seek support for reform, and get the issue pushed further into the mainstream, and the houses of Parliament themselves.

The UK is now lagging behind the likes of America,, Uruguay, Spain, The Netherlands, Portugal etc,, It’s up to all of us to make sure we catch up soon.

- JL