Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:


After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.

How Britain s cannabis debate unfolded

News and Star, Carlisle

Tuesday 17 Oct 2000

---


OCT 5: At the Tory Party Conference, Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe announces controversial proposals to introduce on-the-spot fines of £100 to drug users. Her comments spark a backlash from drug campaigners and police unions, saying they are unworkable, brand recreational users as criminals and will not solve the drugs problem.

OCT 7/8: Six senior Tories admit they have tried cannabis at
university, undermining Miss Widdecombe's proposals. Lib Dem
leader Charles Kennedy calls for legalisation of the drug.

OCT 9: In Cumbria, two city councillors admit to having
tried the drug and Penrith MP David Maclean brands users as
"creeps without a life". Another senior Tory comes out with
an admission that he has tried cannabis. Local Lib Dem Euro
MP Chris Davies backs his parties stance in favour of
legalisation.

OCT 12: Two Cumbrian candidates announce their intention to
stand for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance in next year's
general election. Former Carlisle mayor Colin Paisley says
he hopes to stand for Carlisle, and Mark Gibson, of Alston,
is to take on David Maclean in Penrith and the Border.

OCT 13: Cumbria's Chief Constable Colin Phillips tells The
Cumberland News that he believes the drug will be legalised
and admits he would turn a blind eye if it was smoked in
front of him at a friend's house.

OCT 14: Mr Phillips's comments are reported in national
newspapers and put to the Prime Minister on Radio 4 by Today
presenter John Humphrys. Mr Blair repeats his refusal to
consider legalisation.

OCT 15: A MORI poll shows six out of 10 people think the
cannabis laws should be scrapped and nine out of 10 think
it should be available on prescription.

Results of the first medical trials of the effects of
cannabis on six people conclude that "there were no safety
concerns". The chief scientist of the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society adds his comments to the debate, saying he believes
the drug will be legalised for prescription within two years, and that full legalisation willd "almost certainly" follow.

OCT 16: A Carlisle man becomes the first in the UK to
challenge charges of cultivating the drug as a breach of
Human Rights.

Forty-year-old Alan Mason claims a "necessity defence" to
charges of cultivating 50 cannabis plants in his Stonegarth
home at Carlisle Crown Court. His case is adjourned. The
chairman of Cumbria police authority, Reg Watson, pledges
his support for the Chief Constable's comments, saying it was "appalling'' that users face a criminal record for smoking a joint.

Privately, police officers admit that their Chief Constable's remarks about cannabis have put them in a difficult position.

OCT 17: The Chief Constable sends an e-mail to his force,
clarifying his position. He does not regret his comments, he
insists, and says that all officers have to use their own
discretion when making arrests.

OCT 18: Police Federation rep Kate Rowley hits out at the
Chief Constable and Mr Watson, saying that it is not clear
if officers making arrests would have the support of senior
managers. To Mr Watson, she adds: "You want the law changed,
your party is in government. Do something about it.

"Don't expect the officers of this county to read minds and
know which law this week is on special offer at a cheap rate."

 

 

 

After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back. 




This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.

Feel free to link to this page!