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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Cumbria at centre of cannabis battle
The Cumberland News
Friday 05 Jan 2001 Source: The Cumberland News, UK Pub date: Friday, 5 January 2001 ART: Cumbria at centre of cannabis battle Author: Julie Clayton, political reporter CUMBRIA AT CENTRE OF CANNABIS BATTLE LEGALISE-IT CAMPAIGN TAKES FIGHT TO BALLOT BOX IN NEXT GENERAL ELECTION CUMBRIA is et to become apolitical battleground in the fight to legalise cannabis. The LEGALISE CANNABIS ALLIANCE has so far announced 20 candidates who will stand around the country at the General Election - three of them in north Cumbria. Carlisle contender Colin Paisley, an ex-heroin addict and former city mayor will be joined by Mark Gibson, the husband of multiple sclerosis sufferer Lezley, who is standing in Penrith and The Border. Silloth man John peacock will challenge the Workington seat. The only other area to field so many candidates is Norwich, the headquarters of the alliance, so why has Cumbria proved a hotbed of support for campaigners to legalise dope? Does Cumbria have a strong community of pot smokers? Or are people in the county simply more educated about the issues surrounding cannabis use? Mr Paisley thinks high profile given to cases such as Lezley Gibson's means Cumbrians are more switches on to the therapeutic qualities of cannabis. A multiple sclerosis sufferer, she argued in court that she had a right to treat her excruciating pain, and the jury agreed. She was cleared, but not before the experience had taken its toll on her health. Colin has already stood for the party against Michael Portillo on the Kensington and Chelsea by-election. although he failed to attract five per cent of the vote and lost his deposit, he came eighth out of the 18 candidates. So why does he believe that Cumbrians will make the Labour and Conservative parties sit up and take notice? "I think high profile cases about the medical qualities of cannabis have educated people in Cumbria," he said. "I am surprised by the number of people who stop me in the street and ask how it would help things like glaucoma, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis." Ironically it is a drug Colin doesn't personally like. A registered heroin addict in the sixties turned family drugs support worker, Colin has seen the problems from both sides of the fence. He believes there are only three ways to tackle the issue of cannabis: * Let doctors prescribe it. * Legalise control, regulate and tax it. * Leave it in the hands of organised crime. Mark Gibson, 36, decided to stand for Penrith and The Border after watching his wife Lezley prosecuted for possessing cannabis. Mark said: "Seeing what Lezley had to go through prompted me to stand up for what I believe in. "Not for one minute do I expect to be elected, although I would gladly accept it. I wanted to stand against David Maclean after he said cannabis users are creeps who don't have a life. I want to show him that is not the case. There are many professional people who are smoking, some people come home and have a whisky, some people have a joint. It is just a matter of choice. "Everybody knows a cannabis user, they just might not know it because people keep it quiet. "It is not heroin, it is not ecstasy and it is less addictive than tobacco," he added. "I don't believe that people should be going to court for a couple of grams, it is a waste of police time, money and resources. I would like to see Dutch-style coffee shops and I don't see why that couldn't be in Carlisle. Maybe if we had them in Botchergate there wouldn't be a Black Eye Friday." The controversial comments of Cumbria's Chief Constable Colin Phillips have also helped raise the profile of the campaign to legalise cannabis. In October last year he admitted that if he saw someone at a party smoking dope he would turn a blind eye. The LCA says that, as former Association of Chief Police Officer drugs spokesman, his professional experience and opinion cannot be ignored. John Peacock, of The Crofts, Silloth, has successfully used cannabis to control his epilepsy for three years. The drugs his doctor prescribed to control his epilepsy caused serious side effects. "I was paranoid, I had anxiety attacks, skin rashes and then I discovered they could cause kidney and liver failure. I was almost a hermit. I just didn't want to go out. I cut myself off from everyone. After stopping the tablets I have never felt better. "People who are not into smoking think you are a druggie and it is not true. But I do think we have to take cannabis out of the hands of the pushers. If you have kids going to dealers for cannabis and they are told 'oh I haven't got any but try this tablet' it is dangerous ground." Whatever your views on cannabis, most voters in North Cumbria will have the chance to make them felt at the ballot box for the first time. "A lot of people who voted for me in Kensington and Chelsea said they were voting for the first time. I think we'll get a lot of protest votes as well," added Colin, "I think I might get my deposit back this time."
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