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UK: Greens want cannabis cafes

Tom Peterkin

The Telegraph

Saturday 05 Apr 2003

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Increased motoring charges, a green taxation policy and the legalisation of
cannabis cafes were placed at the heart of the Green Party's election
manifesto yesterday.

Robin Harper, Holyrood's only Green MSP, spoke of his desire to see his
party transform itself from a pressure group into an effective political force.

A radical agenda based on recycling, renewable energy, and biodiversity was
announced by the Greens. None of the proposals was costed by party
officials, who claimed that a lack of resources prevented them from
providing figures.

Mr Harper called for a ban on cloning and genetic engineering of animals,
the abolition of battery production systems and the creation of a dolphin
and whale sanctuary. He also pledged to end the use of animals in circuses
and outlaw animal prizes such as goldfish at fun fairs.

Game bird shooting and deer stalking, however, would escape prohibition if
the Greens gained power as the party recognised the contribution made to
rural economies by sporting estates.

Mr Harper said he had never smoked cannabis but knew many people who had
and were not harmed by it. Therefore possession of the drug and growing it
for personal use would no longer be a criminal offence.

At the launch at the Quaker Meeting House in Edinburgh, Mr Harper said he
hoped to return between eight and 10 MSPs to Holyrood and urged voters to
use their second vote to support the Greens. "This is a different vision -
to improve people's quality of life without destroying the fragile planet
we depend on," said Mr Harper.

Although short on financial detail, the manifesto contained plans for a
Green taxation strategy. The proposal involved the replacement of council
tax and uniform business rates with a land value tax. There would also be a
carbon tax, which would penalise polluters.

All major road building programmes would be halted.

Congestion, emission and parking charges would all be raised and fuel tax
would be increased to compensate for a proposal to abolish vehicle excise
duty. No more Scottish airports would be built and the railways would be
returned to public ownership.

 

 

 

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