Hello Legalise Cannabis Party members,

What changing times we live in, big changes all over the place and politics is no exception. Every election less people vote for Labor or Liberal and every election more and more people vote before election day. Nearly 50% in South Australia voted at the pre polls or by mail. Both these changes would help Legalise Cannabis you’d think.

We have thousands of members but few who want to stand at the voting booths handing out how to vote cards. Understandably. I keep thinking the stigma around using cannabis should be melting away with so many scripts now legally written, but I forget the considerable forces against us that keep feeding the lies they planted decades ago.

Some of our candidates showed the back of their head in official photos instead of faces in SA last week. The stigma remains huge while the arguments against cannabis roll with the changes. Now it’s not safe if it’s not grown with a licence and white coats, hydro essentially. The outdoor homegrown and organic weed grown in the sun is actually dangerous some are saying, but the irradiated hydro chemically grown is safe! The dishonesty is somehow justified in the ruthlessness to maximise profits. In time people believe their own lies.

So with roadblocks in front of our lobbying for cannabis law reform with every State government, and in Canberra where Albo is far too busy with the war war to think about the drug war, not that he ever gives it much thought anyway. He, they, have backed Big Pharma all the way and that health system is failing all over the place. Nutrition doesn't even seem to be important to them. One day they’ll realise us cannabis users medicating ourselves have saved them a fortune.

So maybe it’s time we tried a new way of doing politics here where people can get directly involved in helping the busy politicians work out how to make decisions. I first noticed the Citizens Assembly idea when I read an ex Irish Prime Minister say it was the best thing he did when he was in charge. They used it to make difficult decisions, on abortion for example, and it’s now used in many countries to help decide vexing issues.

About a hundred people are randomly selected to act as a jury on a decision the parliament struggles with. Like cannabis law reform. “Experts” from all sides present their cases to the Assembly which then decides amongst themselves on the right course of action. Like a jury. They can send their decision back for the parliament to decide or the jury’s decision is final. The latter might be better because our Governments ignore their own inquiry conclusions which always say the same about cannabis, the drug laws are doing more harm than good, it’s a health issue, legalise and regulate the plant.

So how about the single issue Legalise Cannabis Party add Citizens Assembly to their one other policy and we’ll try another way of getting our medicine legal, properly. Another way of doing politics, check it out on newdemocracy.com.au , and here’s a quote from there.

When given the authority, time, and information, everyday people take the tough questions, side-step party lines, and deliver sensible answers.

Nimbin's 34th MardiGrass is keeping me busy at the moment and anyone interested in attending I suggest keep an eye on nimbinmardigrass.com as the program evolves. Our four Legalise Cannabis MP's all plan on being here and we have a special guest coming from America, Dr Alex Wodak is bringing Ethan Nadelman.

A huge thank you to the committed souls who went to South Australia to help in the State Election last week. A massive effort by everyone led by Jess and Jason, Gail and Suzette.

Love to everyone,

Michael