Source: Article , Evening News, Norwich

Date: 13 January 1997

 PRO-CANNABIS GROUP BANNED FROM CITY MARKET.

Pro-cannabis campaigners have been banned from a Norwich market after handing out seeds of the illegal plant.

The Campaign to Legalise Cannabis International Association gave the seeds to people visiting an information stall.

And Norwich City Council has banned the organisation from the Haymarket after complaints from the public.

But the campaign - which plans to contest Norwich's two parliamentary seats at the General Election - is ~ threatening a court injunction against the hiring of any council property by political groups.

A spokesman said "The CLCIA considers the refusal to hire the stall would put our candidates at a disadvantage".

The row follows a display by the group in December at the Haymarket. Police received 10 complaints about the distribution of seeds.

Distributing cannabis seeds is not illegal - the question of legality only arises when they have grown into plants.

Helen Selleck, the council's community arts and events officer, said: "We recognise this was not an illegal activity. But they acted outside the terms of their contract. Some complaints suggested seeds were handed out to young people"

Norfolk police drugs education officer Richard Price said: "Cannabis seed once grown is an illegal substance".