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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: AM admits: I tried drug as teenager
Marc Baker Wales on Sunday
Sunday 23 Oct 2005 WELSH Assembly Member Mick Bates last night admitted: "I've smoked pot." As pressure grows on Tory leadership front-runner David Cameron to spill the beans on whether he's ever dabbled with drugs, the AM for Montgomeryshire held up his hands and admitted he smoked cannabis as a teenager. The 58-year-old Lib Dem was the only Welsh politician to confess all this week after Wales on Sunday asked every AM and many MPs if they had ever taken illegal drugs. And Mr Bates, who first took cannabis when he was just 16, said he was happy to confess all to warn young children about the dangers of drug abuse. Last night, Welsh Lib Dem leader Lembit Opik backed Mr Bates and blasted the media for stirring up a storm. "Any suggestion that Mick Bates would be disciplined because he has admitted this is laughable," he said. "My reaction is 'So what?'. Fair play to Mick for being so up front." Last night, Mr Bates confessed: "I first tried pot when I was 16. My mother had just died of a brain haemorrhage and my father went into hospital because of the shock. "I was offered it in a folk club in Loughborough and I tried it. I probably tried it half a dozen times up until I was 19 - it did not lead to anything harder. "When my mum died in 1964 aged 48 things were tough socially. I tried pot and I just guess it's just one of those things that kids go though. I was 16 and it was just an era when kids were trying everything. It was the fashion." Despite his confession, Mr Bates last night respected Mr Cameron's decision to remain quiet. The drugs issue has dogged his campaign although he denied ever having used cocaine as an MP. He has repeatedly side-stepped questions over drug use, saying he had a "normal university experience". "I do respect his wishes. I understand why some people think it's unfair to be challenged about their private life," he said. "But I do think it's a fair question to be asked. As politicians we are in public life and we should be scrutinised. But we should be judged on what we do now, not on what we may have done in the past." Mr Bates added: "I am happy to admit to have tried pot. "Today, I work with a lot of kids and I went through a tough time when I was young. I now know the value of company rather than trying to resort to something else." Mr Bates was the only Welsh politician to confess all this week. Whilst some refused outright to answer the question, others saw the funny side. Mid and West Wales AM Glyn Davies (Con) said: "I tried cigars when I was young. Apart from that absolutely nothing at all to report. All clear." South Wales West AM Peter Black (Lib Dem) said: "I have not even smoked a cigarette." Among those who admitted to never trying drugs were Clwyd West MP David Jones, Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney MP Dai Havard and Wrexham AM Janet Ryder. Among those refusing to comment were Yns Mon MP Albert Owen, and Clwyd South AM Karen Sinclair (Lab). Newport West MP Paul Flynn said he had never tried any drug despite calling for cannabis to be legalised. The Labour MP said: "I am happy to admit that I have never tried an illegal drug and David Cameron is right to dodge the issue. Everyone has a private life. "He is right to stay silent. He has to win the leadership battle before he can put forward his views on issues. "I am glad the drugs question has been raised, though, as I am looking forward to an informed debate on the subject. "The only way to reduce drug use and drug crime is to collapse the illegal drugs market by replacing it with a legal market that can be policed, regulated and controlled."
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