CANNABIS CAMPAIGNER APPEARS IN COURT

A Cumbrian cannabis campaigner appeared in court yesterday to contest
drug laws as an infringement of human rights.

Forty-year-old Alan Mason, of Stonegarth, does not deny cultivating
50 plants in the bedroom of his Morton flat but is pleading not
guilty because he claims drug use is a private matter which the
government has no right to interfere with.

No details of his case at Carlilse Crown Court yeterday can be made
public for legal reasons, but Mr Mason has made no secret of his
intended defence under the Human Rights legislation, which came into
force last October.

His defence barrister Francis Nance spent four hours presenting his
case to Judge Anthony Proctor, who will make his judgement on whether
the trial should go ahead on the day it is due to start.

Mr Mason's case is one of around 12 awaiting trial in which users
hope to test Article 8 of the Act. Victory in one could lead to a
rapid unravelling of the drugs laws.

Mr Mason, who is devoting his life to a legal battle for his "right"
to smoke pot, has previously appeared in several national newspapers
to argue his case, and keeps followers advised via his own website.

He has "no regrets" about taking up his fight, he said, and feels
confident that "the death of prohibition" is less than 18 months away.

A date for his trial was due to be fixed at Crown Court today.