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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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No hard drugs plea for party
Steve Clow Essex Chronicle
Saturday 01 Sep 2001 A PRO-CANNABIS lobby is urging people not to take hard drugs to a Smokey Bear party in Chelmsford tomorrow (Saturday). The UK Cannabis Internet Activists, an umbrella website for cannabis supporters, has hit back at some media reports which refer to it as a drugs party. It says the event is a demonstration in support of cannabis being legalised and the end of its prohibition as a class B controlled drug. Spokesman Derek Williams said: "Of course cannabis is welcome at the picnic, but class A drugs such as heroin, cocaine and crack are certainly not." Smokey Bear picnics have a chequered history Most pass off peacefully but, two years ago, scuffles broke out on Southsea Common as police confronted demonstrators and arrested 30. Mr Williams said: "We are not challenging the police, but the Government to change the law. Smokey Bear picnics have been happening around the country for some time now. "They have one aim and that is to bring pressure on the law prohibiting cannabis. "It is partly to separate the use of cannabis from that of 'drugs' that the law needs to be changed. So this picnic will be no more of a drugs party than a few beers in a pub garden would be. "The use of cannabis is widespread and normalised, and society really does need to accept this. The aim is to stage events where the law is openly challenged." Veteran Braintree cannabis campaigner Don Barnard said: We hope Essex police will be tolerant. A police spokesman said that they would monitor the event and enforce the law if necessary.
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