2011 December edition Issue 1 ED:Peter Kmita-DawsonMonthlyFurtherViewing:• The IDMU report “Taxing the UK Cannabis Market” here•CLEAR press conference 14th September 2011 http://www.youtu be.com/watch?fe ature=player_em bedded&v=RQ4 DXIv_dYECLEAR (Cannabis Law Reform) Monthly, https://www.facebook.com/ClearUKOn September 14th 2011 CLEAR commissioned a report with the Independent Drug Monitoring Unit (IDMU). The intention of this report was to show a credible system of policy in order to tax and regulate use of cannabis in Britain. Findings of the report included an estimated 1.7 to 3.6 million active cannabis users the in UK, with the consumption being between 620 to 1400 metric tons annually. This gives anestimated market value of £2.9 to£ 8.6 billion per year disappearinginto theabyss of the underworld. The report A CLEAR Plan For The Regulation Of Cannabis In Britain The Toke Pure Campaign Let’s face it, you’re not going to hear from politicians that the biggest risk when smoking cannabis is not the cannabis but the tobacco you use it with. This is not to say that cannabis is risk free but the reality of the situation is that tobacco is physically addictive and has been proven to be a cause of numerous cancers. Cannabis on the other hand is not physically addictive but it doesinclude carcinogens. However one of the largest ever studies on cannabis smoking found no positive association to cancer. (http://www.ukcia.org/research/M jUseAndLungCancer.php ) proposes that an alternative to the current policy of prohibition is possible. Rather than criminalization there would be regulation and taxation with the involvement of an excise duty proportionate to potency as well as domestic licensing and commercial licensing. It also covers proposed duty and taxation. IDMU give an estimate of revenue through licensing and taxation of £3.2 to£ 9.2billion, an average of £ 6.4 billion. The estimate is basedon onepound of duty per gram per 5% THC plus 20% VAT. This would also include a license based system with a charge of £200 for a 1 to 2 square meter patch and £200 annual fine for exceeding estimate. The overall cost benefit including additional new costs of implementation comes to a staggering best estimate of £ 6.7 billion. That £6.7 billion could go to education, health care or evenpolicing but most importantly it will be taken out of criminal hands. There is no quick fix method for cannabis use but thisreport clearly shows there is an alternative to prohibition. The amount of carcinogens found in cannabis has also been found to be proportionately less than in tobacco. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc /articles/PMC1277837/) And the final icing on the cake, Munson et al in 1975 found that THC had an antineoplastic effect giving it anti-cancer properties. So in other words smoking in general is dangerous no matter what is being smoked. If what you choose is to be cannabis then avoid mixing it with tobacco. Cannabis is notphysically addictive, is less carcinogenic and is shown to haveanti- cancer properties. For further information on the toke pure campaign go tohttp://clear-uk.org/tokepure/Melamede.R (2005). Cannabis and tobacco smoke are not equally carcinogenic. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc /articles/PMC1277837 /) Tashkin. D.P. (2006) Marijuana Use and Lung Cancer: Results of a Case-Control Study. (http://www.ukcia.org/research/M jUseAndLungCancer.php ) Munson. A.E. (1975). Antineoplastic activity of cannabinoids. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub med/1159836)
