Legal highs are the product of prohibition. If we made cannabis and MDMA legally available to adults under responsible regulation the market for these new, untested substances would virtually dry up.

We have at least 5,000 years experience with cannabis and for most adults, used in moderation, it is actually beneficial as a supplement to the endocannabinoid system and it helps protect against cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative and auto immune conditions.  Each year in Britain we hospitalise three times as many people for peanuts as we do for cannabis and that puts the health risks into proper perspective.

Similarly, MDMA is far less dangerous than aspirin or alcohol and if, as in Holland, we tested and certified the contents of a tablet we would protect people far better than the present inane and self-defeating policy.

The people who are directly to blame for the fact that our children are taking these dangerous, untested new substances are the idiots who run our drugs policy: David Cameron, Theresa May and, shamefully, against his own party’s policy, Jeremy Browne.

These weak, hypocritical, self-serving and cowardly politicians have allowed themselves to be bullied by the alcohol industry and a malevolent, sensation-seeking tabloid press into maintaining a policy that is simply absurd.

I have seen nothing so shameful, crass and ignorant as the behaviour of staff in the BBC newsroom during the Queen’s visit today.

I saw not one bow, curtsey, nor even a bow of the head as Her Majesty passed by.  Instead, in vulgar and embarrassing fashion virtually everyone was pointing their mobile phone, gawping, intruding, forgetting themselves. ‘Chav’ seems the perfect moniker for such individuals.

If this is the behaviour of well educated people at the world’s leading news organisation at the pinnacle of British cultural life then we are sadly diminished.

This is finals week and I never knew you could get teared up about cooking!

My hot tip is Natalie, the ‘common as muck’ but charming ingenue.  Personality plays a big part.

It’s worth watching.  The music, which reveals the rhythm of cooking, is a vital ingredient.

Watch clips here.

If I was photographed exiting the boat I was hiding in, apparently unarmed, why am I now in critical condition in hospital.

Why has it taken an operation on such an outlandish scale to deal with two pretty dumb teenagers?

Something isn’t right.

In order to protect patient confidentiality and against the sort of sabotage which is so often seen in the cannabis campaign, we are not releasing details of who we are meeting or when.  Suffice to say that this breakthrough has been achieved by many months of behind the scenes work, meetings with MPs, doctors and the courageous efforts of several CLEAR members.

The focus is to permit medicinal users access to the products of Bedrocan, the Dutch government’s official producer of medicinal cannabis.  We now have written confirmation from both the Department of Health and the Home Office that doctors are fully entitled to write prescriptions for Bedrocan products, just as they are for any other unlicensed medicine.

The next stage is to obtain an import licence from the Home Office, either a personal import licence for each individual or a licence for a pharmacist to import and dispense.  The recent re-scheduling of Sativex makes our case for obtaining these licences much stronger.

We are not there yet but we are now closer than we have ever been to enabling legal access to medicinal cannabis.  The delegation will be meeting face to face with people who can make this happen.

We also have a BBC documentary producer with whom we have been working for a few months concerning a programme to be broadcast in the autumn.  This visit to parliament could form an important part of the programme.

If you are interested in being considered as a member of the delegation, please email me with a concise description of yourself, your condition and your history of medicinal cannabis use: peterreynolds@clear-uk.org

The claim concerned statements published on the GCCRC website by Chris Bovey, Alun Buffry, Edwin Stratton and Stuart Wyatt.  Dr Potter has published an apology on the GCCRC website which describes the statements as “derogatory“, “without evidence” and “defamatory“.

Dr Potter’s apology in full:

“On the 28 November 2012 and 29 November 2012 in response to various third party postings on the discussion forum on the GCCRC website I made certain comments about Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR), Peter Reynolds, UKCIA, and Derek Williams. The third party postings I was responding to were derogatory and provided no evidence in respect of the allegations made against Mr Reynolds, Mr Williams, CLEAR and UKCIA. As such my comments were ill-considered and I unreservedly apologise for making them.

I wish to make it clear that the GCCRC is not affiliated with, nor does it support nor oppose any particular individual or group in the cannabis law reform movement or otherwise. Its purpose is to support the carrying out of important research, and all personal information collected in the course of that research is kept strictly confidential and is never shared with third parties. I would ask that in the future individuals do not use the GCCRC site to make public defamatory comments about any third party, and in the alternative if they have legitimate concerns these should be raised by email to the GCCRC using the email functionality on the GCCRC website.”

Further terms of the settlement are confidential.

This is the first domino to fall and my High Court claims against Bovey, Buffry, Greg ‘Cure Ukay’ De Hoedt and Sarah McCulloch are proceeding apace. Those, including Stratton and Wyatt, who have also been concerned in this campaign of abuse, harassment and defamation can expect to hear from me shortly.

Of course, this abuse has not just affected me.  What finally moved me to launch legal action was when the hate campaign started to target my children and my 78 year old mother.  Those concerned have already been involved in abusing and blackmailing various CLEAR members.  One past member of our executive committee had posted pictures of his grow on a forum and these were sent to his local police using information stolen from the CLEAR website when it was hacked in March of last year. Threats were even made against CLEAR supporters in the USA using the same stolen information. Derek Williams has suffered repeated attempts to blacken his name with his employers.  I salute his courage and steadfast support.

Finally, I should make it very clear that I do not associate the estimable and reputable US organisation NORML with those involved in the  management of its UK chapter (NUK), nor the NUK members who are innocent pawns in the anti-CLEAR campaign.

The pitiful, rude and incontinent abuse of her shows exactly why we are so much poorer for her passing.

Britain has become the epitome of sophistry, where gossip and oppressive opinion dominate and diminish our discourse.

It is encouraged by tabloid journalism and broadcasting.   Our attention is always diverted by sensation.   What we miss from Margaret is the ability to focus on a goal.  Ever more we are concerned and trapped  by the midfield battle.  In fact, Premier League football is the perfect analogy – corrupt, depraved, greedy, self-serving, manipulative.

The disgusting behaviour of those who demean the dead says it all.  To those who have posted abuse of Margaret Thatcher here (deleted)  and who pursue their playground bullying, good day to you. Are you proud?

We, the pride of Britain, are very proud of Maggie.

In general there has been a respectful and appropriate response to the death of Britain’s finest leader since Churchill.  Even senior Labour figures have preserved their dignity and given due credit for her importance.  Those who have demeaned themselves with cheap and oafish abuse know who they are and they are lesser people for it.

She has always been my hero.  In 1979, when I had just started my first business I had car window stickers printed reading ‘Support Maggie In the Interests Of Britain’.

She was and will remain a magnificent woman of stature beyond compare.  As someone wrote today, what the snide, jealous left really hated about her was that she was working class – yet with real ambition and ability.

Rest in peace Maggie.  Britain and the world is forever changed and greatly enhanced by your noble life.