UK: Castle Point: Call to legalise cannabis by prospective MP

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This is Essex

Friday 26 Jan 2001

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Source: This is Essex, UK
Date: Friday 26 Jan 2001

Castle Point: Call to legalise cannabis by prospective MP

Cannabis should be legalised immediately, according to the Liberal
Democrats' choice to fight the Castle Point seat at the next General Election.

Billy Boulton, who is due to be officially selected as the party's
prospective parliamentary candidate for the borough this week, said: "In my
opinion cannabis should be legalised tomorrow. I have no problem with
saying that."

"It is substantially less harmful than alcohol and tobacco both on the
person using it and those in close proximity."

Official Liberal Democrat party policy on cannabis is to call for a Royal
Commission to investigate the issue. However the 25-year-old, who is
standing as a parliamentary candidate for the first time, said he would
campaign for its legalisation if he were elected. Mr Boulton, who was born
and brought up in Westcliff, has been a city councillor in Norwich since
1998 and works for a firm organising
educational holidays for foreign students.

He is the only candidate party bosses are considering and his selection
comes less than two years after the Liberal Democrats failed to put up a
single candidate for the borough council elections. However, Mr Boulton
said the erratic fortunes of the party at local level would not blunt his
challenge for the seat held by Labour's Christine Butler.

Mrs Butler said: "Anyone is welcome to stand but it seems they have to find
someone from outside the area. I am on record as saying I oppose the
egalisation of cannabis."

Former Castle Point MP Bob Spink, the Conservatives' prospective candidate
for the election, said he welcomed Mr Boulton's candidacy and added: "I
disagree with his position on cannabis. However, I think there is room to
determine where cannabis can be used for medicinal purposes although I am
against the legalisation of general use."

Mr Boulton, who is single, said: "You start each election on a level
playing field. Having not lived in the area since 1993 I accept I have to
learn again and listen to the electorate but I don't think that will be a
disadvantage."

He said: "I admit I will not be favourite to win but I believe I have a
good chance."

At the General Election in 1997 the Liberal Democrats' David Baker took
4,477 votes. Following that the party in Castle Point merged with Rayleigh
because of a fall in local membership.

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