Cannabis Culture Award winner 2012 Thorvald Stoltenberg:

‘Hope is almost as important as life itself’

During a festive and moving ceremony, the Cannabis Culture Awards 2012 were awarded on April 26th in Amsterdam. Two former statesmen, Mr. Thorvald Stoltenberg, former minister of Defense of Norway and Mr. Dries van Agt, former Prime minister of the Netherlands, expressed their hope for a future without cannabis prohibition. ‘Hope is almost as important as life itself’, said Stoltenberg, after accepting the Cannabis Culture Award on behalf of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

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Lifetime achievement Awards
Since 2004, the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Amsterdam, grants the Cannabis Culture Awards to individuals and organizations who have commendably sought, for the acceptance of cannabis in all its forms and for the reintroduction of marihuana and hemp in modern society. The Cannabis Culture Awards have been granted to prominent figures in recent years, such as: former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt, renowned Dutch poet Simon Vinkenoog and the American  political and cannabis activist Jack Herer.

International Prize for international issue
The Cannabis Culture Awards have an international character. Consequently two weeks after the ceremony in Amsterdam, two additional awards are granted  to: Fernanda de la Figuera (renowned Spanish cannabis activist) and Todd McCormick (renowned American author, photographer, cannabis activist). The ceremony coincides with the opening of the first Hemp Museum Gallery in Spain, which is situated in the beautiful renovated Palau Mornau in Barcelona.

Noblesse oblige
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 repercussion is still common good.  Fortunately there is a counter movement. Sensible noble public figures and influential NGOs,  who choose to let ratio and humanity prevail above political objectives.

Museums with a mission
The Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Amsterdam offers a unique permanent exhibition, on the development of the cannabis plant as a versatile source for industrial, nutritional, medicinal, sacramental and recreational purposes. The collection consists of rare items that founder Ben Dronkers, over the past forty years, collected throughout the world. Due to the overwhelming interest for Cannabis in southern Europe, a sister museum in Barcelona will be opened on 9 may 2012,  the Hemp Museum Gallery. Both museums in Amsterdam and Barcelona focus on modern citizens, who despite repressive government measures, are not deterred, to gain knowledge about this particular plant independently.
More information about the Cannabis Culture Awards 2012 can be found here.