Subj: UK: Cannabis march attracts thousands



Source: BBC Online



Date: May 1, 1999





ubject: CANNABIS MARCH ATTRACTS THOUSANDS



Police say they will arrest anyone smoking cannabis 



Thousands of people have taken part in a demonstration for the

legalisation of cannabis in London. 

An estimated 5,000 people set off from Brixton at 1200 BST heading

for Clapham Common for a "celebration of cannabis". 



There was a large police presence at the beginning of the march

because security has been tightened in the wake of the three nail

bombings in recent days. 



Another march protesting at the bomb attacks set off from Lambeth

Town Hall to Trafalgar Square at 1300 BST. 



Cannabis users 'ignored' 



The drugs protest was part of a worldwide day of events organised by

activists of the International Cannabis Coalition. 



It believes that the use of cannabis is widespread and that many

otherwise law-abiding sections of society were being categorised as

criminal. 



A group spokesperson said: "The law is being held in disrepute and over

seven million cannabis users are being ignored by politicians at their

peril."