Pubdate: Mon, 12 Feb 2007
Source: Mirror, The (UK)
Copyright: 2007 The Mirror
Contact:  http://www.mirror.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1161
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

WE'RE DOPE SMOKING MP'S

IN recent year many high-profile MPs have admitted smoking
cannabis as students.

They include several Tory shadow ministers, including party chairman
Francis Maude. Shadow Education Secretary David Willetts said he once
tried the drug, as did Oliver Letwin, who heads David Cameron's policy
development team.

Speaking about cannabis, senior Tory Tim Yeo once said: "I don't share
the view that it was disagreeable.

I found it agreeable."

Ex-MP Neil Hamilton said of his experience: "I couldn't taste
anything."

Senior Labour figures have also admitted use. Junior minister Yvette
Cooper said: "I did try cannabis, like a lot of students at that
time." The late Mo Mowlam, a former Northern Ireland Minister, said:
"I tried marijuana, didn't like it and unlike Clinton I did inhale."

Newport MP Paul Flynn of the all-party group on drug misuse, backs a
change in the law to allow the medicinal use of cannabis.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake