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Italian MEP not arrested for cannabis possession

Ananova

Monday 28 Jan 2002

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An Italian MEP hoping to be arrested by Stockport police for
cannabis possession has been sent away after refusing a
caution.

Marco Pannella, the leader of the Transnational Radical
Party, was in the city to protest against the prohibition of
cannabis.

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman told Ananova a small
quantity of a substance was confiscated and Mr Pannella was
turned away.

Two other MEPs, Liberal Democrat Chris Davies and Italian
Marco Cappato, were arrested and charged with possession of
cannabis in December. Both are due in magistrates court in
the city tomorrow.

The police spokeswoman said officers have the power to
caution those in possession of small amounts of the drug and
said the officer concerned used his discretion in dealing
with 71-year-old Mr Pannella.

But Chris Davies claimed the failure to arrest his
parliamentary colleague marked a change in policy from the
Greater Manchester force. "For those people campaigning for
a change in cannabis legislation, this is a significant
victory," he said.

However, the GMP spokeswoman said the decision doesn't alter
their commitment to tackling drug abuse. "The interests of
the people of Greater Manchester would be better served with
police resources being deployed to tackle crime and disorder
within the community rather than being squandered becoming
embroiled in political debates," added a police statement.

A Home Office spokesman told Ananova cannabis possession
is illegal but said it was up to Chief Constables and their
officers to interpret the law. He said there are no
proposals to legalise the drug but said the Advisory Council
for the Misuse of Drugs is considering a proposal to
reclassify cannabis as a Class C substance.

That would mean possession of cannabis for personal use
would become a non-arrestable offence.

 

 

 

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