UPA and Labour - Making yourself heard!

When United Patients Alliance formed in July 2014, we did so with the support of Caroline Lucas MP and the Green Party. By the time the year was done we were engaging with the LibDems through events and patients meeting the Deputy PM Nick Clegg along with Former Drugs Minister, Norman Baker announcing his patronage. Support from them is locked in and we have a few more announcements to make there too shortly.

Now in our 3rd year - seems the Labour Party are finally starting to bite!

This has not happened by accident, you know! United Patients Alliance have been being a thorn in their sides for ages -  Really - we don't give up! How can we - our illnesses don't!

On March 14th 2015 on BBC's Free Speech, Faye Jones wearing UPA Purple asked a great question to the wannabe leader Ed Milliband - I mean GREAT question, with follow up - and you gotta wait until the end....... 

Only 6 months past to the Labour Leadership Election Debate. Up UPA pop again with another question, this time to all the potential leaders, and we have to say,. great answer, Jeremy - but isn't it about time you followed through on that?

Full Article: Sky News Labour Debate: Should Cannabis be Decriminalised

And now we have Paul Flynn MP calling for Civil Disobedience in Parliament:

We have, of course, answered Paul's call to arms and have arranged a very civil bit of disobedience and Paul will be joining many patients for a bit of a (medicated) T-Party:

Patients At Parliament Protest - Click Here for Details

Also - Paul is now helping to work on the rest of the Labour Party: 

It’s time for Labour to back patients when it comes to medical marijuana


On September 30th at United Patients Alliance Medical Cannabis Conference and AGM - the next steps in our plans for Labour will become very much clearer! Yes - That's Paul Flynn MP - and Tonia Antoniazzi MP too.....

UPA Medical Cannabis Conference and AGM - Click Here for Details

And then we are coming for you, Jezza!

After that, there is only one major party left to get on board!?

Jon Liebling – Political Director of United Patients Alliance

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PRESS RELEASE - United Patients Alliance - Medical Cannabis Conference

United Patients Alliance Press Release

For Editor: EMBARGOED: Major announcements from Key Speakers of interest to the media and public will be made in the morning regarding their future relationship with United Patients Alliance. 

Paul Flynn MP will become a Patron
Tonia Antonaizzi MP will become a Patron

Professor Mike Barnes will become a Trusteee
Gavin Sathianathan (CEO - Forma Holdings) - will become a Trustee

Happy to give more detail in person.

No Embargo

United Patients Alliance announce Medical Cannabis Conference + AGM

Main Event Date: 30th September 2017
Event Time 10am to 5pm
Location: Maple House, 150 Corporation St, Birmingham B4 6TB
Guests: 200+

We are incredibly excited to announce our very first Medical Cannabis Conference and AGM weekend at Maple House, Birmingham.

Run purely by volunteers who are also patients, it’s time to celebrate how much United Patients Alliance have achieved towards our goal of legal access for medical cannabis patients in the UK since being founded in 2014

We will be hosting talks with special guests:
Prof. Mike Barnes - Consultant of Neurology
Paul Flynn MP LAB
Tonia Antoniazzi MP LAB
Dr Gary Potter - Senior Lecturer and Cannabis Cultivation expert
Dr Axel Klein - Professor of Sociology
Together have just completed 2 year study of Cultivation and Trafficking of Cannabis in the UK. 
Gavin Sathianathan - CEO Forma Holdings

We aim to bring attendees up to speed on the latest science, medicine and the politics of cannabis and cannabis growing and to prepare UPA and our volunteers for the next 12 months. 

Also confirmed speaking: LEAP UK, The Loop, CBDBrothers, Release, Volteface

We will have patients such as Sarah Martin, Clark French, Faye Jones and more talk about their experiences consuming cannabis as their main form of medicine. 

All ages are welcome and disabled access is available
Tickets are £25 (£15 concessions) and can be purchased here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/medical-cannabis-conference-upa-agm-tickets-37657646033?aff=es2

ENDS

Editors notes:

Contact Details:

Jon Liebling | Political Director - United Patients Alliance

E: jon@liebling.co.uk M: 07921589237

Clark French | Founder and Director - United Patients Alliance

E: as.the.sun.sets@hotmail.co.uk M: 07773 690488

Please use our Website Page link in any publications: http://www.upalliance.org/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introducing United Patients Alliance

The United Patients Alliance are a support and campaigning community for 1000s or medical cannabis patients in the UK who suffer from a range of conditions including; Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Crohn’s, Anxiety, Depression, AIDS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, ME, PTSD, Epilepsy, Chronic and Neuropathic Pain, all of whom have found that various types and strengths of cannabis consumed in a variety of ways has proven to be a more effective medicine than their legal and prescribed alternatives in improving their lives, reducing side effects and treating their symptoms. These patients are forced to either live in unnecessary discomfort and pain or risk dealing with criminals for their medicine and a criminal record for growing it or consuming it.

We launched in June 2014 with the support of Caroline Lucas MP and Professor David Nutt and have since gained the direct support of a number of other ministers and politicians. We run Patient Perspective and Cannabis College events around the UK to give patients a forum for telling their stories and to help inform the public of the proven medical benefits whilst dispelling the myths and half-truths about its harms. We estimate that there are about 1m active medical cannabis consumers who would immediately benefit from a change in this dreadful situation. In terms of genuine information on medical cannabis and how best to consume it, we are the UK’s experts on cannabis as a medicine.

Political Director of United Patients Alliance, Jon Liebling says

"The speakers we have managed to secure for our first Medical Cannabis Conference is a testament to the amazing dedication of patients with chronic illnesses who are United Patients Alliance and to the growing medical, academic and political support for legal access to cannabis therapeutics. 
We are going to have some game changing collaborations to announce. You don't want to miss this."

Quotes from United Patients Alliance Patients:

Alex Fraser – Crohn’s Patient

"I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at 19. I cannot be prescribed any traditional painkillers for my chronic pain. Cannabis is my only medicine, it's the only thing that's ever worked. It eases my pain, gives me an appetite, helps me sleep and reduces my nausea. Regular use reduces all of my symptoms to the point where it enables me to work. Without cannabis, my life would barely be worth living"

Faye Jones - Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient

"I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 27 and rely on cannabis for pain relief, and to combat the side effects of prescribed treatments for my condition, that would otherwise prevent me from staying in full time employment."

A Weekend with Product Earth

I LOVE Product Earth. It really is just a great place to be! Well, if you are into that sort of thing. Which, of course, I am. For a number of reasons, one of which I find more urgent than the others.

What, besides that then, is it that I LOVE?

If the good old Daily Mail were to cover this event, it would of course be framed as a celebration of debauchery and criminality from the losers in our society who should all be arrested and punished. They, and anyone who believes that same is totally, absolutely, completely - WRONG! 

During my IT Career as a Senior Business Relationship Manager, I had the opportunity to experience dozens of Expo's, trade shows and the like, you meet all sorts of people and all sorts of businesses wanting to tell you all about their USPs and their unbeatable discounts and how much they admire you and whatever company you're here from and why you can't live without their product or service and here and there you find the odd little gem of a concern that have different values; they LOVE their product or service and all they want to do is earn a living, do good in the world, give you value for money and dream about achieving whatever is their dream. I always loved those little moments within the chaos of salesmen and marketers.

At Product Earth, it's different. Very different. There are indeed one or two examples of the former, but juxtaposed in and around the dark arches in a run down industrial area of Birmingham, here were beautiful little gems all over the place. In fact the overwhelming majority! This is right across all the sub groups; Seed Companies like Greenhouse Seeds and their strain-hunting and investment in seed genetics to the niche Hemp growers, confectioners,  glassware makers, magazine publishers, medical patient advocates, vape sellers and organisations showing off the latest technology from growing right through all directions to consumption and so much more and almost everyone of them wants to push the boundaries, bring the industry forward, improve it and make it better and safer and of course, freer. 

Here are hundreds of individuals who are just trying to do something good, that they are good at and they LOVE whilst earning a living, you know, like you're supposed to do. Really special, kind, compassionate, lovely people, providing a product or service in the best way they know how to consumers who, for all sorts of reasons, are creating the demand.....and the demand is growing every year. 

What is obvious, at Product Earth, because it is all happening all around you is: We don't need to define, build or arguably even regulate a cannabis industry, we just need to legalise and legitimise the one that's already here. From what I can see, whilst it does need some seasoning and a little control, it already has more compassion, invention, information, kindness, collaboration and integrity than any other business sector I've experienced.

Then, of course there are the visitors, guests, consumers: Well quite simply, they reflect exactly the same attributes as the little gems amongst one or two thorns. But even as I say that, it occurs to me that at no point during the entire event did I either see or hear of anything untoward or any unpleasantness going on at any point by any visitor! So perhaps we have something unique? I cant imagine saying that after a "Product Alcohol" expo?) 

What really is causing all the problems here? The industry, or the law?

Jon

PRESS RELEASE - UNITED PATIENTS ALLIANCE - Norman Baker

United Patients Alliance Press Release - No Embargo

Norman Baker UPA Workshop - March 2017

Former UK Gov Drugs Minister announced as Patron of Medical Cannabis Org.

Since being launched in 2014 with the help of Caroline Lucas MP, United Patients Alliance have always been a charitable organisation and have worked hard to make allies and supporters within political spheres. Now on our journey to becoming a registered charity we are proud and honoured to announce former UK Government Drugs Minister and LibDem MP for Lewes, Norman Baker as our first Patron:

“I have gladly accepted the offer to become patron of the UPA. They are a well organised and sensible group. I am very clear from my time as drugs minister in the coalition government that for some people, access to cannabis is essential for their health and it is disgraceful that not only are they denied access to vital medicine but prosecuted if they access it themselves. The UPA makes a strong case for a more humane approach and I am delighted to do what I can to support them."

LibDem Parliamentary Candidate for Lewes, Kelly-Marie Blundell is very supportive:

"As a long time campaigner for access to cannabis for medicinal purposes, I'm pleased to see the United Patients Alliance go from strength to strength, and I hope with Norman Baker on board as well, we can see more action."

Clark French, Founder and Director of United Patients Alliance

“United Patients Alliance is delighted to welcome Norman as our first Patron. After our meetings with Norman at his constituency office he took Keiron Reeves and I to the home office to talk about how medical cannabis helps us. Having a former drugs Minister as a part of of the UPA is going to strengthen our organisation which in turn will help us to play a bigger part in the inevitable changes to future cannabis laws.”

Jon Liebling, Political Director:  

“We look forward to continuing our work with the support of such an influential political figure such as Norman on board and look forward to making more exiting announcements and collaborations over the coming months.”

ENDS

Editors notes:

Contact Details:

Clark French - 07773690488 - as.the.sun.sets@hotmail.co.uk 

Jon Liebling – 07921589237 – jon@liebling.co.uk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introducing United Patients Alliance

The United Patients Alliance are a rapidly growing support and campaigning community for medical cannabis patients who suffer from a range of conditions including; Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Crohn’s, Anxiety, Depression, AIDS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, ME, PTSD, Epilepsy, Chronic and Neuropathic Pain all of whom have found that various types and strengths of cannabis consumed in a variety of ways has proven to be a more effective medicine than their legal and prescribed alternatives in improving their lives, reducing side effects and treating their symptoms. These patients are forced to either live in unnecessary discomfort and pain or risk dealing with criminals for their medicine and a criminal record for growing it or consuming it.

We launched in June 2014 with the support of Caroline Lucas MP and Professor David Nutt and have since gained the direct support of a number of other politicians, including former drugs minister, Norman Baker. We run Patient Perspective and Cannabis College events around the UK to give patients a forum for telling their stories and to help inform the public of the proven medical benefits whilst dispelling the myths and half-truths about its harms. We estimate that there are about 1m active and current medical cannabis consumers who would immediately benefit from a change in this dreadful situation. In terms of genuine information on medical cannabis and how best to consume it, we are the UK’s experts on cannabis as a medicine.

APPG Inquiry Report - UK Government Responds - BADLY

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform along with United Patients Alliance and #EndOurPain submitted evidence and recommendations directly to the UK Government on September 13th 2016 from their recent initiative:


“Short Inquiry into the case for changing the categorisation of cannabis for medicinal purposes from Schedule 1 to a more appropriate Schedule”

Clark French and Jon Liebling from UPA join #EndOurPain and and APPG at Number 10!

We now have the Prime Minster Theresa May's response when Roger Godsiff, Labour MP for Birmingham, Hall Green, asked this parliamentary question:

“To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will respond to the recommendations of the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform Accessing Medicinal Cannabis: Meeting Patients’ Needs, published in September 2016.”



Sarah Newton MP, minister of state at the Home Office replied:

“The Prime Minister responded to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform’s report ‘Accessing Medicinal Cannabis: Meeting Patients’ Needs’ on the 27 October.
Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and, in its raw form, currently has no recognised medicinal benefits in the UK. It is therefore listed as a Schedule 1 drug under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001
It is important that all medicines containing controlled drugs are thoroughly trialled to ensure they meet rigorous standards so that doctors and patients are sure of their efficacy and safety. To do otherwise for cannabis would amount to a circumvention of the clearly established and necessary regime for approving medicines in the UK.”

Whilst disappointing, it is hardly a surprise that this is simply a copy/paste of the same tired position the UK government has held since 1971. Clearly, neither the PM nor any of her ministers have given any consideration whatsoever to the scientific evidence presented by top UK Neurologist, Professor Mike Barnes's bar setting paper nor the output from the 623 medicinal cannabis patients from United Patients Alliance's survey.

Frankly, this just isn't good enough when it is estimated that over 1 million UK citizens suffering from a range of conditions could have their health and lives improved immediately and whilst it is difficult to argue that "It is important that all medicines containing controlled drugs are thoroughly trialled to ensure they meet rigorous standards" this has to be set against the reality that we are literally years away from this process providing any sort of progress for patients who could be helped today with legal access to cannabis in various forms. 

It is worth noting that in a recent meeting I had with Chris Tovey, Chief Operating Officer for GW Pharmaceuticals, he estimated that even Epidiolex, which has completed successful phase 3 trials and is close to approval for treatment in the US, is between 2 and 3 years away from approval in the UK. Any further cannabis based medications are, perhaps, 5 to 10 years away. Our patients cannot wait that long as has become quite clear across the globe.

With the recent progress in the US, Canada, Australia, 11 European countries and many other parts of the world, it seems inevitable that the UK government will have to look more closely and address its current unsustainable position on cannabis. However, if we want to see change happen more quickly then we must continue to increase the pressure on them and make sure that this issue remains in the public and political eye.

Of course, United Patients Alliance nor the APPG will be letting this lie. We have to make maintaining the status quo LESS comfortable for them than addressing it and plans are already in place to respond to the government including legal challenges, parliamentary motions and questions, media focuses and of course #EndOurPain will continue to bring more MPs and grow public support. More details on these plans will be forthcoming soon - Watch this space.

What can you do?

Sign up to support #EndOurPain here: http://www.endourpain.org/




Please write to your your MP, giving them the report that the APPG presented to the PM and demanding they they read it and respond to the evidence AND NOT just give the standard government line as above. Ask them to demand that the government give full consideration and a detailed response to the evidence and to each of the recommendations rather that just regurgitating their indefensible current position: Click here for how to do this

All the documents can be accessed here:

APPG Report: Accessing Medicinal Cannabis: Meeting Patient’s Needs 
Professor Mike Barnes: Cannabis: The Evidence for Medical Use 
United Patients Alliance: Medicinal Cannabis Patient Survey

We need your help and support to be the most effective we can be, so please see what you can do to help: HELP - United Patients Alliance

NOW is the time YOU can make a difference. NOW is the time to make ourselves heard. NOW is the time to support Cannabis as a Medicine.

Jon Liebling – Political Director of United Patients Alliance

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HELP - United Patients Alliance

United Patients Alliance need YOUR Help:

We are always looking for people who can spare any time at all to help us in our goal of legal access to cannabis therapeutics in the UK.

No matter what you can do, no matter how much time you have, no matter how anonymous you want to be - There is something YOU can do to help:

#EndOurPain

Sign up to #EndOurPain and join the 37 MPs, 13 Peers, 4 celebrities and 22k supporters that have already done so. Then tell all your friends and family to do the same.

Facebook Posts/Tweets/etc - ALWAYS and Every one!

• Follow us on Twitter: @upallianceuk
• Like us on Facebook
• Like all our FB posts and tweets
• Comment on posts/tweets - this spreads the word (much wider)
• Share posts/Retweet - spreads the word (much much wider)
• Share posts in other groups you think are appropriate

• LIKES – Likes are the throwaway gesture of social media. When you like the Page Update. Facebook assigns very little weight to it in the Newsfeed algorithm.
• COMMENTS – When you comment on a Page Update, Facebook’s Newsfeed gives more weight to comments than likes. 10 TIMES BETTER!
• SHARES – A share is the brass ring on Facebook. This is huge in terms of exposure, word-of-mouth recommendation, and credibility. Facebook assigns the most weight to shares. 100 TIMES BETTER!

Letter/MP Writing <- Click link for detailed help

• Write to your MP
• Highlight your own condition/situation
• Ask for their support
• Highlight recent APPG launch and all its information/initiatives
• Highlight the best Scientific Evidence
• Request support for United Patients Alliance and #EndOurPain
• Ask for Face to Face Meeting
• Newspapers/Magazines
• Patient Stories (Pref Public but can be anonymous)
• Articles (individual or groups?) for publication about the APPG Launch and #EndOurPain 
• Be supportive, but can suggest that it does not go far enough for you/your group...because.....(GYO, Extracts, Choice/Range, etc.....)
• "Have your say" sections of newspapers like (Metro, Sun, Mail, Telegraph, etc)
• Published Articles
• Share
• Comment
• Share your comment

Other Activities

• Help organise UPA UK Tour and Grassroots showings (2 separate events...probably?)
• Brighton, London, Bristol, Cardiff, Belfast, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow + any others you would like to suggest
• Ideas for improving event nights
• Finding + booking suitable venues
• Event Admin/Advertising/Leafletting/Posters
• Recruiting in local area
• Hosting event in local area
• Become Regional Admin and recruit local help?
• Meme Making
• Ideas for good memes
• Graphic Design for branded memes 
• Video Shorts
• Short video clips (with branding and subtitles) say 30s on why you choose cannabis for your condition - The more the merrier!
• Blogging (Need content for brand new website due for launch soon)
• Writing blogs about almost anything in relation to Cannabis as a Medicine
• Writing opinion pieces about #UPA #EndOurPain, APPG Launch, Mike Barnes' report, UPA Patient Survey
• No opinion will be censored but would strongly prefer "supportive" Eg: Brilliant and a great step forward, thanks, blah BUT: Better if, needs that, should be like this because.....etc....
• Other website content:
• Guides
• GYO
• Care Giver/Community Sharing
• Extracts
• Harm Reduction
• Dosage guide
• General consumption advice
• Legal Advice
• Any other ideas
• Research for Soundbites from UK based sources
• Politicians/Celebrities etc
• Search Hansard/TheyWorkForYou

Be a Patient

• We are always looking for patients willing to speak out publicly and be available for media interviews/events
• I hate saying this, but it is just TRUE - The more emotional your story, the better. The more debilitating your illness, the better. Wheelchairs/Walking sticks all welcome! The more eloquent you are the better. The more presentable you are, the better - We put patients forward, it is (ALWAYS) the media who select who they want!
• Particularly looking for:
• Veterans
• Medical Professionals
• Elderly
• Child
• Mothers
• Anyone who can demonstrate "live" the "rapid" impacts of cannabis consumption 
• Mental Illnesses - Unique Opportunity
• For the very first time thanks in no small way to the support of Norman Lamb MP, we have significant focus on the benefits of cannabis to mental health conditions, especially: PTSD and Anxiety
• We need willing patients with these or related conditions also with broader/other mental health conditions who get benefit from cannabis to step forwards

NOW is the time to make a difference. NOW is the time to be heard. NOW is the time to support Cannabis as a Medicine.

Jon Liebling – Political Director of United Patients Alliance

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Meeting Norman Lamb MP - CBD, Cannabis and Mental Health

Meeting Norman Lamb MP - 11th October 2016

I had the pleasure of meeting with Norman Lamb MP, who stands as both one of the most proactive supporters and campaigners for Mental Health Reform, and passionate advocate for cannabis law reform both as a medicine and recreationally. He commissioned the Expert Group, Chaired by Steve Rolles,Senior Policy Analyst, Transform Drug Policy Foundation who published the most recent proposal for legal regulation of cannabis, which was submitted to parliament and can be found here: 
A regulated cannabis market for the UK


The subject for our discussion was one particularly close to my heart and mind: The Benefits of Cannabis for Mental Health Conditions, but, resulting from the recent decision by the MHRA to classify all cannabidiol (CBD) containing products as a medicine, I thought this was worth adding to the agenda.

Over the last couple of years, I have had a number of experiences of meeting MPs and I have to say that meeting Norman is different in all the good ways. He is informal, welcoming and friendly, he also has really comfortable leather sofas and I could very quickly tell that he was actively listening and taking a personal interest in what I had come to ask him, challenging fairly, asking searching and informed questions so that he understood the whole issue properly. That said, as with all MPs you meet their time is short so I got to the point:

CBD and the MHRA

Whilst supporting the need to regulate and quality control the CBD product market for the benefit of all consumers, I explained our concerns regarding the impact on many 1000s of patients' well being if legal access was restricted or indeed removed for any period of time. He listened, he grilled me, he understood and he dictated a letter to the MHRA right there and then in front of me and asking for an urgent response:

Norman Lamb's Letter to MHRA - Page 1

Norman Lamb's Letter to MHRA - Page 2

Result! Wow - That worked well, I must say. Will update you as soon as I get the Chief Executive Officer of MHRA's response!

Cannabis and Mental Health

Mental Health Conditions Effectively Managed with Cannabis
as reported by patients
©United Patients Alliance/APPG
Patient Survey 2016

We then discussed the the benefits of cannabis for many mental health conditions evidenced from Professor Mike Barnes' recent study, citing Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Disorders and PTSD along with the results of UPA's patient survey, (which we will publish shortly) finding 36% of patients effectively managing a range of mental health conditions with cannabis in various strengths and forms. 
(Conditions as reported in free text field)

Norman found these data compelling and was fascinated by the range. He noted that he had heard of its potential benefits for Anxiety and PTSD and agreed that the subject needed focus and attention.

I explained, that we spend too much time defending cannabis against exaggerated claims about its risks and so neglected the exciting benefits and that I felt, with his record in Mental Health reform, he would be in the best position to help us change this narrative. He asked, in what ways I thought he could help, so I asked whether he would help open the door to national organisations and charities on the subject. He suggested and agreed to facilitate a parliamentary round table discussion with a number of the major Mental Health Charities with whom he has a very good and long standing relationship. Another Result! (Well, as long as I can put the whole proposal together for him!!  HELP? Seriously - Help!)

Quite coincidentally (serendipitously), I happened to meet Professor David Nutt, from DrugScience on the tube on the way in and we had a very interesting conversation. Firstly, he was off to meet with representatives of the MHRA to discuss directly what their objectives and reasoning was in making their recent statement, as he feels that they might not be properly informed on the science of cannabis and CBD and was going to help them get up to speed. He has assured me, that he will be feeding back on how that went. 
In addition, he added, that there might just be some rather good news internationally on cannabis being announced shortly - He did not go into any more detail on this, but strongly suggested to keep an eye on his twitter account on Friday afternoon! :)

I have to say - Today was a good day! 

Jon Liebling – Political Director of United Patients Alliance

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United Patients Alliance Website