[namkha]

Sir Richard Branson to accept 2012 Cannabis Culture Award in Spain on behalf of the Global Commission on Drug Policy
http://www.globalcom...nson-to-accept/
May 9, 2012

Sir Richard Branson will receive the Cannabis Culture Award 2012 in Barcelona this week on behalf of the Global Commission on Drug Policy. Sir Richard serves on the Global Commission along with former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz along with fifteen other global leaders. In June 2011 the Commission published a groundbreaking report on the failures of the decades-long drug war. The Commission called on states to open a sensible debate on drug policy reform and to take steps to decriminalize drug use by individuals who do no harm to others. Sir Richard has been a passionate advocate for drug policies that focus on the dignity and humanity of all.

Other awards winners this year in Barcelona, Ms. Fernanda de la Figuera – renowned Spanish cannabis activist and Mr. Todd McCormick – renowned American author, photographer, cannabis activist. After the Awards ceremony, the Hemp Museum Gallery Barcelona, which is located in the beautifully refurbished Palau Mornau in Barcelona in Spain, will be officially opened by Mr. Bernat Pellisa, mayor of Rasquera.

This will be the second round of Awards for 2012, representing the growth and international character of the Cannabis Culture Awards. On April 26th, the Global Commission on Drug Policy has accepted the award in Amsterdam represented by Thorvald Stoltenberg – Norway’s Former Foreign Minister. Other awardees in Amsterdam included Dr. Lester Grinspoon – Associate Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry of Harvard Medical School and Dr. Frederick Polak – renowned Dutch psychiatrist in the area of drug use.

Recognising Achievements in Ending Cannabis Prohibition
Since 2004, the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum Amsterdam has conferred the Cannabis Culture Awards to individuals and organizations who have commendably advocated for the acceptance of cannabis in all its forms and for the reintroduction of marihuana and hemp in modern society. In previous years, the Cannabis Culture Awards have been presented to former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dries van Agt, poet and author Simon Vinkenoog and the American political and cannabis activist Jack Herer.

A moral obligation
In the year 2012, the importance of the Cannabis Culture Awards is greater than ever. Even though more and more countries decriminalize cannabis, in the majority of countries repression, stigmatization and imprisonment is still common. Fortunately there is a worldwide counter-movement, which argues that reason, justice and humanity must prevail over political objectives.

Aiming to change the world
The Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum Amsterdam is a unique permanent exhibition which shows the past, present and future of the cannabis plant as a versatile source for industrial, nutritional, medicinal, sacramental and recreational purposes. The Museum’s collection is composed of rare artefacts related to all aspects of cannabis history and culture, which founder Ben Dronkers has been gathering from around the world over the last 40 years. Due to overwhelming public interest in the subject of cannabis in Southern Europe, a sister-museum will be opened in Spain on 9 May 2012 – the Hemp Museum Gallery Barcelona. The Museums located both in Amsterdam and Barcelona are meant to counter misinformation in the media and to educate and entertain anyone who wishes to know more about this fascinating plant.

[indicatoker420]

Let's listen to the UN about the war on Iraq and Afghanistan but not about the war on drugs. I really don't know what it'd take for the bastards to legalise the stuff.

This post has been edited by indicatoker420: 10 May 2012 - 08:08 PM

[not-a-criminal]

Fairs, Mr Branson has been helping the cause recently.

[DANZIG]

not-a-criminal, on 10 May 2012 - 08:09 PM, said:

Fairs, Mr Branson has been helping the cause recently.

All he's doing is helping himself as fucking always

[sunshine band]

indicatoker420, on 10 May 2012 - 08:07 PM, said:

Let's listen to the UN about the war on Iraq and Afghanistan but not about the war on drugs. I really don't know what it'd take for the bastards to legalise the stuff.

All those things are a war on people, not words. When you say 'legalise the stuff', well think about it - we are not stuff! Drugs cannot be legalised, they are not accontable to law. Danzig - what's worse is the Home Affairs Select C'tee think Branson and Brand are the experts - it would be funny if it wasn't so tragic.

This post has been edited by sunshine band: 11 May 2012 - 11:38 AM

[MED]

DANZIG, on 11 May 2012 - 09:57 AM, said:

All he's doing is helping himself as fucking always

i dont know enough im guessing but i thought having someone like Rich Branson on our side was a good thing?

[DANZIG]

MED, on 11 May 2012 - 11:46 AM, said:

i dont know enough im guessing but i thought having someone like Rich Branson on our side was a good thing?

All he cares about is his empire and how he can make it bigger, if you really think he's doing anybody any favours regarding cannabis then you are dreaming

Then again he's obviously supporting the NHS out of the goodness of his heart!


Virgin NHS

[MED]

DANZIG, on 11 May 2012 - 11:53 AM, said:

MED, on 11 May 2012 - 11:46 AM, said:

i dont know enough im guessing but i thought having someone like Rich Branson on our side was a good thing?

All he cares about is his empire and how he can make it bigger, if you really think he's doing anybody any favours regarding cannabis then you are dreaming

Then again he's obviously supporting the NHS out of the goodness of his heart!


Virgin NHS

guess i was dreaming never really paid much attention to his activities.

Virgin Care tho? fucking hell! sad times.

[Kratos]

But hes promoting a good cause, right? Even if it is for his own selfish reasons
And yeh it does seem a bit strange that such a powerful businessman would for some reason suddenly get involved in politics and fighting prohibition, with no apparent benefit to himself??

[MED]

chazp17, on 11 May 2012 - 08:07 PM, said:

But hes promoting a good cause, right? Even if it is for his own selfish reasons
And yeh it does seem a bit strange that such a powerful businessman would for some reason suddenly get involved in politics and fighting prohibition, with no apparent benefit to himself??

he maybe sees the potential for the products and services that a weed and hemp industry could produce.

business is business but maybe he likes a toke. i like the idea of that hahaha

[Kratos]

That's probably whats needed if legalisation is ever going to happen, powerful people realising they could make alot of money out if it!
I can see the connections now- fighting for decriminalisation/ regulation etc- exclusively provided to you by virgincare
Got to be done seeing as GW have patents on everything other than the plant itself, so the pharmaceuticals market is inaccessible....

Still it could be a step in roughly the right direction?

[cocojoe]

Bransons a cunt, he wants to be the main man, all he see's is £$£$£$£$£$£$£, he probably got patent and copyright on all sorts of weed products, just waiting for the green light and he'll be up and runnin' first
coco

[MED]

chazp17, on 11 May 2012 - 08:31 PM, said:

That's probably whats needed if legalisation is ever going to happen, powerful people realising they could make alot of money out if it!
I can see the connections now- fighting for decriminalisation/ regulation etc- exclusively provided to you by virgincare
Got to be done seeing as GW have patents on everything other than the plant itself, so the pharmaceuticals market is inaccessible....

Still it could be a step in roughly the right direction?

yup its the capitalist way or the not high way.



could be a good step i hope. rich folks seeing the benifits.

ironicly the situation that led to prohibition

[Superbudding]

I don't mind Branson he's a self made man! Doing good for the cause helps us all eventually

[not-a-criminal]

DANZIG, on 11 May 2012 - 11:53 AM, said:

MED, on 11 May 2012 - 11:46 AM, said:

i dont know enough im guessing but i thought having someone like Rich Branson on our side was a good thing?

All he cares about is his empire and how he can make it bigger, if you really think he's doing anybody any favours regarding cannabis then you are dreaming

Then again he's obviously supporting the NHS out of the goodness of his heart!


Virgin NHS

I have to admit, I had my doubts about Branson, that's why I didn't exactly congratulate him. After reading this in another topic my suspicions were confirmed, but he was saying a lot about how prohibition is bad and how in its current form criminalises people for partaking in an activity that isn't as harmful as it's made out to be. It was good to hear that from a high profile individual, but really, it's always there in the back of your mind that he's got his own motives, and it's highly likely they won't be compatible with ours.

I'd much rather see someone like you get the award, trust.