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UK: Drugs battle goes on

The Citizen (Lancaster)

Thursday 07 Nov 2002

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A local Euro MP has vowed to continue his fight to legalise cannabis
despite being fined for possession of the drug last week, reports Liz Aspinall.

Chris Davies was fined £100 for defying the law after he stuck a small piece
of cannabis to a postage stamp while outside a police station as a mark of
protest.

Mr Davies was demonstrating against the UK's drug laws, which he claims
should concentrate on dangerous hard drugs and not prosecute cannabis users.

The Liberal Democrat North West MEP was also forced to pay prosecution and
police costs of £3,500, making his total legal bill around £5,000.

Mr Davies said: "I have never used cannabis in my life, but I am passionate
in my belief that the law must be changed and that there must be a
separation between soft and hard drugs if we are to cut crime and reduce harm.

If my action in any way helps achieve these objectives then the costs of
£5,000 I have incurred will be money well spent.

"The Dutch policy of permitting cannabis coffee shops has ensured that
cannabis users need never come across heroin dealers.

It has been hugely successful.

Holland now has the smallest problem of drugs misuse in Europe, and the
lowest rate of heroin addiction.

The separation of soft and hard drugs works, and we should follow this
example."

His protest was conducted largely to support the first cannabis coffee shop
in Britain, which operated near Stockport for over a year.

Its founder, Colin Davies, has now been given a prison sentence.

Mr Davies added: "He has now been sentenced to three years' imprisonment,
but if he was in Holland he would have been given a licence by the local
council.

"The Home Secretary says that he intends to make the possession of cannabis
a non-arrestable offence, but that the maximum penalty for the supply of
this soft drug will be 14 years' imprisonment.

"This will drive cannabis users into the hands of heroin dealers and make
the situation worse."

Judge Stuart Fish described the MEP's actions as `highly irresponsible' and
added that he thought Mr Davies had wasted police time.

"The judge accused me of being `highly irresponsible,' and if I had been in
his position no doubt I would have said the same," said Mr Davies.

"But I am a representative as well as a lawmaker, and the millions of
people in Britain who have used cannabis at some time in their lives
deserve some representation from politicians who believe in actions as well
as words.

"Those who accuse me of wasting police time should be reminded that the
Government's own advisers say that cannabis is less harmful than either
alcohol or tobacco, yet tens of thousands are arrested each year for its
possession.

"This is a ridiculous waste of police resources, and an attack on
individual liberties.

It must be brought to an end."

 

 

 

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