Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:


After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.

UK: Drugs law 'ridiculous', says arrested MEP

The BBC

Tuesday 29 Jan 2002

---
Two Euro MPs have appeared in court charged with possessing cannabis.
Chris Davies of High Kinders, Greenfield, Oldham, and Marco Cappato, of
Vendano in Milan, were arrested after taking part in two protests
campaigning for a change in the UK's law on cannabis.

Both men denied the charges during the five-minute hearing at Stockport
Magistrates Court.

Liberal Democrat Mr Davies and his Italian Radical Party counterpart were
committed for trial at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court and
released on unconditional bail.

'Outrageous' law

The Liberal Democrat was arrested before Christmas after he led a march to
Stockport police station allegedly carrying a tiny piece of cannabis stuck
to the back of a postage stamp.

Italian MEP Marco Cappato was arrested days later after turning up at
Stockport magistrates' court to support Mr Davies, allegedly also clutching
a small amount of the drug.

Both men had joined protesters campaigning for The Dutch Experience -
Britain's first Amsterdam-style cannabis cafe - which opened in Stockport
last year.

Colin Davies, owner of the Dutch Experience, supports prescribing cannabis
as a medicine.

He was remanded in custody in the hospital wing of Strangeways Prison last
November on drugs charges.

Outside court, Chris Davies, the Liberal Democrat MEP for the North West of
England, said he hoped his trial, beginning on 15 March, would bring about
a public debate on cannabis laws.

Mr Davies said: "I think our drug laws have been ridiculous. Our laws and
especially the law on cannabis are outrageous."

At the time of their arrests, Greater Manchester Police criticised both
Euro politicians for wasting officers' time.

On Monday police refused to arrest Radical leader Marco Pannello after he
presented himself at Stockport police station clutching a small amount of
the Class B drug.

Chris Davies added: "Greater Manchester Police yesterday revealed a change
in policy when they refused to arrest another MEP making a similar protest.

"They said it was a waste of time and I agree. This is a crime with no
victims."

 

 

 

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!