Pubdate: Fri, 25 Feb 2005
Source: South London Press (UK)
Copyright: Trinity Mirror Plc 2005
Contact:  http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3106
Author: Clare Casey
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

CANNABIS MARCH TO BE BANNED

IT USED to be the home of the so-called 'softly-softly' approach to
cannabis possession and for many it's the natural place for a festival
calling for the drug to be legalised. For six years, thousands of
revellers descended on Lambeth to back the campaign. CLARE CASEY finds
out why the event has been banned

LOVE it or hate it, it was an established fixture in the cultural
calender.

In less than a decade the annual Cannabis March and Festival in
Lambeth became better known than the borough's country show.

But not any more. Lambeth council this week announced it would not let
the event's organisers hold the festival at Brockwell Park in Herne
Hill.

The authority has banned what would have been the seventh festival,
alleging drug dealing took place in the Victorian park at last year's
bash. The move has angered organisers who claim the decision was taken
for political reasons. Thousands of people marched annually from
Kennington to Brockwell Park for the festival in support of a global
call to legalise cannabis. Similar events take place around the world
to mark Cannabis Liberation Day.

But Lambeth's executive member for environment, Councillor Clare
Whelan, said it would be "irresponsible" to let the festival go ahead.

The Conservative councillor told the South London Press: "Residents and
council officers who went to last year's event were offered drugs by dealers.

"It is against the law to sell drugs and I was horrified to discover
families - not just one or two but a substantial number - had been
approached by dealers. Brockwell Park is council land and it is up to
us to take a stand.

"We cannot condone letting an event go ahead where drug dealers
operate, because that would be completely irresponsible.

"I absolutely support liberty of speech and people campaigning for a
change in the law but this is a different thing altogether.

"Lambeth has had a reputation for turning a blind eye to cannabis
smoking but we must remember it is still illegal."

This so-called "softly-softly" approach was undertaken in 2001 when
Lambeth police pioneered a lenient approach to cannabis possession in
which people caught with small amounts of the drug were cautioned
rather than arrested. This is no longer the case.

Festival organiser and Green Party drugs spokesman Shane Collins
claims the Liberal Democrat and Conservative-run council axed the
event because of Cllr Whelan's political persuasion, an allegation
Cllr Whelan denies.

Mr Collins said: "The council is making itself look
foolish.

"Cllr Whelan is a Tory and that's why she doesn't want it to go
ahead.

"I would be interested to see a list of all these residents who
complained to her officers - I suspect it's very short.

"On the one hand the council bleats on about a sense of community and
says it is really important to provide events for the people of
Lambeth, but then they stop us doing just that.

"Thousands of people look forward to this free festival every year and
to pull it with no explanation is a disgrace. It's a safe event which
is all about people having fun.

"By stopping it they have made themselves look extremely stupid yet
again."

The festival might be banned but Mr Collins said the march to the
park, via Brixton, would go ahead as planned on Saturday, May 7.

On the same day similar protests calling for the legalisation of
cannabis will take place around the world.

Residents neighbouring the park had mixed views about the festival
ban.

Simon Cobban, of Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, was disappointed.

He said: "I have never seen any trouble and it's a good festival. It's
not only the march but there's good food and it's a fun day out.

"It tends to attract the 'dogs on strings-type' but my only complaint
is there are a lot of camper vans that park on this road for the
couple of days surrounding the event."

A pensioner in Norwood Road, who asked not to be named, said: "I'm
sure the council has stopped it with good reason.

"Sometimes the music is a bit loud - but not as bad as the megaphones
you hear when the Lambeth Show is on.

"Those young ones don't cause any trouble but they leave a lot of
litter."

Staff at Tanley's Irish bar in Dulwich Road said the ban would be bad
for business and the community.

Full-time bar worker Evelyn McDonagh said: "I always choose to work
when the cannabis festival is on because it's such a fun day.

"You get loads of people popping in for a couple of pints and it's a
good atmosphere.

"I think it's a shame for everyone that it's not going
ahead."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake