Pubdate: Mon, 08 Apr 2002 Source: Eastern Daily Press (UK) Copyright: 2002 Eastern Counties Newspapers Group Ltd Contact: http://www.ecn.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/131 Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org CANNABIS CAN BOOST FARMING Thousands of acres of farm land could soon be under profitable cultivation for cannabis, uplifting the rural economy, a pro-cannabis conference in Norwich has been told. Campaigners hope Home Secretary David Blunkett will relax the law governing the use of cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes. The Legalise Cannabis Alliance says there are nine million users in the UK and the potential market for home-grown varieties is enormous. Apart from its narcotic qualities, the plant can be used as cheap fuel and make materials such as paper, cloth and building bricks. The issue was discussed at the lobby group's third annual conference at the University of East Anglia on Saturday. There was no smoking in the lecture theatre hall but people openly rolled and smoked joints outside. "It is the perfect crop for farmers - it grows extremely quickly, just like a weed and does not need any herbicides or insecticides", said spokesman Don Barnard. "Trials have already proved that cannabis can be grown successfully in this country and now it is a question of growing it commercially. It could do wonders for the economy - especially if as suspected the Government makes it legal and taxes it." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth