Pubdate: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 Source: Oldham Evening Chronicle (UK) Copyright: Oldham Evening Chronicle 2002 Contact: http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1151 CANNABIS MEP SAYS NOT GUILTY Oldham MEP Chris Davies may be forced to face trial outside the North-West after a judge said today that there could be a conflict of interests. Mr Davies, who is campaigning for legalisation of cannabis, this morning pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing the Class B drug. But before deciding on a trial date, Judge David Fish, speaking at Minshull Street Crown Court, said he was not comfortable with the politician being tried by his own constituents. Mr Davies, of Higher Kinders in Greenfield, handed himself in to police with a small amount of cannabis in December. He was joined in the dock by fellow Euro MP Marco Capatto, of the Italian Radical Party, who had done the same just days later. Mr Richard Orme, defending, said the two politicians may eventually represent themselves at a trial scheduled for two days and likely to take place in August. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek