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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Pot lobby sets its sights on square
Greg Truscott South London Press
Friday 01 Apr 2005 A PRO-CANNABIS festival banned by council leaders is looking for an international stage. The annual Cannabis March and Festival, traditionally held in Lambeth, hopes to rally in world-famous Trafalgar Square, the South London Press can reveal. Thousands of people would be expected to join the May 15 march and rally in central London calling for the drug to be legalised. The event still needs the blessing of London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who would need to give organisers permission to converge on the prestigious landmark. In February, Lambeth's Liberal Democrat and Conservative-run council banned organisers from holding the seventh annual festival in Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, alleging drug dealing had taken place at the previous year's event. Conservative councillor Clare Whelan - Lambeth's executive member for environment - told organisers the council could not "condone letting an event go ahead where drug dealers operate, because that would be completely irresponsible". In the past six years the council has taken organisers to court twice for event licence violations. The council prosecuted organiser Shane Collins in 2003 because music was played at the event for 1 minute 25 seconds after it was supposed to end. The local authority lost the case. The council has also slapped massive increases on the cost of event licences to hold the festival. Now Mr Collins and other organisers have turned their backs on dealing with Lambeth council because of the constant opposition to their cause. Organisers hope the march can now start in Kennington Park before heading across the Thames to Westminster. Mr Collins said: "The cannabis issue is becoming overshadowed by Lambeth's lack of democracy. "That is why we are taking the issue to central London to repeat our call for cannabis cafes which have age restrictions and clear labelling of the strength of cannabis on sale. "We're expecting a very large turnout." A spokesman for Mayor Livingstone said: "We have received an application to use Trafalgar Square for the rally which we are currently looking at. No decision has been taken on whether or not the event will be given the go-ahead."
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