|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
Cannabis campaigner has cool strategy
The Independent
Saturday 02 Jun 2001 http://www.independent.co.uk/ Cannabis campaigner has cool strategy By Ian Burrell, Home Affairs Correspondent Mike Goodman, a veteran cannabis campaigner, wanders the sands of Britain's finest surfing beaches, gazing out across the Atlantic and dreaming of getting "way cool in the green room". But unlike the wet-suited dudes in the Cornish surf waiting for a "mondo" wave, Mr Goodman's thoughts are ofthe green leather seats in the House of Commons chamber. For, after a decade campaigning for cannabis decriminalisation as director of the drugs advice charity Release, he has been given a New Labour ticket to seek to represent North Cornwall. And for those who have become used to the staunch refusal of Jack Straw, the Home Secretary, to liberalise Britain's drug laws, New Labour's championing of Mr Goodman comes as something of a surprise. Mr Goodman said yesterday: "Cannabis is quite a big issue to people, but at elections it tends to get squeezed out. Politicians don't like to talk about it because they are more likely to lose votes, than gain votes." He supported the Government's strategy on drugs, though he felt there was "room for improvement". The drug issue is absent from his election literature, with preference given to more important local topics, including the need to regenerate the area by attracting new industries and to provide more opportunities for young people. The sitting candidate, the Liberal Democrat Paul Tyler, is defending a 14,000 majority; Labour polled just 5,000 votes in 1997. Mr Goodman, a trained barrister, spoke candidly about the forthcoming challenge until asked the crucial question: Have you ever smoked dope? "I think it's a legitimate question, no question about that," he said, before obsfucating some more, and then finally adding, "My position in regard to cannabis is one of principles in regards to the law. They are more informed by John Stuart Mill's On Liberty ... rather than whether or not I have ever tried cannabis or other drugs."
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!