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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Police say drugs protest MEP wasted officers' time
Ananova
Saturday 15 Dec 2001 A Euro-MP arrested and charged for possession of cannabis has been attacked by police for wasting their time. Liberal Democrat Chris Davies was taking part in a protest against Britain's drugs laws outside Stockport police station. He has been ordered to appear before magistrates in the Greater Manchester town later this week. It took 12 police officers to arrest Liberal Democrat Chris Davies after he arrived brandishing a tiny amount of the drug on the back of a postage stamp. The force's Assistant Chief Constable, Med Hughes, has criticised the MEP for "wasting the time of hard-working officers" instead of campaigning to change laws on the drug through British and European political institutions. But Mr Davies, MEP for the North-West of England, said that as a member of the European parliament, he was in no position to lobby for a change in British laws. He said: "I am a European MP and have no influence over domestic law. I represent countries where the law has already been changed and am just hoping that Britain can be brought into line with European best practice." Chris Davies, who is due at Stockport Magistrates Court on Thursday, December 20, said he had been assured by the officers arresting him that they had been enjoying a relatively quiet day and that he had caused them "no problems at all". Earlier, Mr Davies had led dozens of cannabis campaigners on a march through Stockport in the latest in a string of protests following the opening of Britain's first Amsterdam-style coffee shop in the town. The coffee shop - The Dutch Experience - was opened earlier this year by cannabis campaigner Colin Davies, who is being held on remand at Strangeways prison on drugs charges. He is no relation to the MEP.
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