Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2000
Source: News & Star (UK)
Copyright: 2000 News & Star
Contact:  Newspaper House, Dalston Road, Carlisle CA2 5UA
Fax: 594088
Website: http://www.news-and-star.co.uk/
Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance, http://www.lca-uk.org
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00.n1512.a03.html, 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00.n1527.a10.html

HOW BRITAIN'S CANNABIS DEBATE UNFOLDED

OCT 5: At the Tory Party Conference, Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe 
announces controversial proposals to introduce on-the-spot fines of UKP 100 
to drug users. Her comments spark a backlash from drug campaigners and 
police unions, saying they are unworkable, brand recreational users as 
criminals and will not solve the drugs problem.

OCT 7/8: Six senior Tories admit they have tried cannabis at university, 
undermining Miss Widdecombe's proposals. Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy 
calls for legalisation of the drug.

OCT 9: In Cumbria, two city councillors admit to having tried the drug and 
Penrith MP David Maclean brands users as "creeps without a life". Another 
senior Tory comes out with an admission that he has tried cannabis. Local 
Lib Dem Euro MP Chris Davies backs his parties stance in favour of 
legalisation.

OCT 12: Two Cumbrian candidates announce their intention to stand for the 
Legalise Cannabis Alliance in next year's general election. Former Carlisle 
mayor Colin Paisley says he hopes to stand for Carlisle, and Mark Gibson, 
of Alston, is to take on David Maclean in Penrith and the Border.

OCT 13: Cumbria's Chief Constable Colin Phillips tells The Cumberland News 
that he believes the drug will be legalised and admits he would turn a 
blind eye if it was smoked in front of him at a friend's house.

OCT 14: Mr Phillips's comments are reported in national newspapers and put 
to the Prime Minister on Radio 4 by Today presenter John Humphrys. Mr Blair 
repeats his refusal to consider legalisation.

OCT 15: A MORI poll shows six out of 10 people think the cannabis laws 
should be scrapped and nine out of 10 think it should be available on 
prescription. Results of the first medical trials of the effects of 
cannabis on six people conclude that "there were no safety concerns". The 
chief scientist of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society adds his comments to 
the debate, saying he believes the drug will be legalised for prescription 
within two years, and that full legalisation willd "almost certainly" follow.

OCT 16: A Carlisle man becomes the first in the UK to challenge charges of 
cultivating the drug as a breach of Human Rights.

Forty-year-old Alan Mason claims a "necessity defence" to charges of 
cultivating 50 cannabis plants in his Stonegarth home at Carlisle Crown 
Court. His case is adjourned. The chairman of Cumbria police authority, Reg 
Watson, pledges his support for the Chief Constable's comments, saying it 
was "appalling'' that users face a criminal record for smoking a joint.

Privately, police officers admit that their Chief Constable's remarks about 
cannabis have put them in a difficult position.

OCT 17: The Chief Constable sends an e-mail to his force, clarifying his 
position. He does not regret his comments, he insists, and says that all 
officers have to use their own discretion when making arrests.

OCT 18: Police Federation rep Kate Rowley hits out at the Chief Constable 
and Mr Watson, saying that it is not clear if officers making arrests would 
have the support of senior managers. To Mr Watson, she adds: "You want the 
law changed, your party is in government. Do something about it.

"Don't expect the officers of this county to read minds and know which law 
this week is on special offer at a cheap rate."
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D