PUTTING CANNABIS DEBATE CENTRE STAGE

This election will bankrupt me, says Philip Lockwood, with a wry grin, as
he takes another puff and then a quick swig of Carlsberg.

Calder Valley's "free the weed" candidate - one of 14 standing for the
Legalise Cannabis Alliance - is in a mellow, meet the media mood. He's
sitting outside the Clifton Arms in Brighouse enjoying the sun.

He doesn't seem too worried about his impending bankruptcy. Two local bands
are talking of doing a benifit gig and the alliance is providing him with
the fliers for the free mailshot that every candidate gets.

Anyway, six years as a fireman and many years on and off benefit have
taught him a range of survival skills. But not quite enough, it seems, to
survive a cannabis possession charge and one year's probation.

That still rankles. Defending himself - his barrister didn't turn up -
Philip Lockwood, 43, claimed he used cannabis as "self-medication". It
worked better than NHS drugs for treating depression he told the court.

His own medical history, presented at the court by expert witness Matthew
Atha, reads like a pharmaceutical A to Z. Since he was a hyperactive
seven-year-old, doctors have prescribed him literally dozens of drugs.

Painkillers, anti-epileptics, major tranquilisers, anti-depressants, beta
blockers, sleeping tablets, mood enhancers and muscle relaxants - he's been
prescribed them all, some 29 different drugs since 1982 alone.

And none of them, he says, has done as much good as a regular cannabis
spliff. That's why he was nurturing some 56 plants at Back Charles Street,
Brighouse when the police arrived. The Bill meets Little Weed.

"When I was arrested I felt it was inappropriate. I'd been saving the NHS
money and I was keeping well in myself. For once I'd pulled my life
together. I was director of a computer web design company," he says.

His defence of medical need didn't persuade the court, however. But the
conviction did persuade him that the laws against cannabis are unjust and
inapproprate and must be changed.

Using the internet and read voraciously, Philip Lockwood has become an
expert on the subject. He is impressively well-informed about the history
of cannabis and about medical research and its effects.

"Queen Victoria used it for period pains, you know," he says. "And hemp
seeds are more nutritious than soya. Napoleon invaded Russia because France
needed new supplies of hemp to make rope and sails."

His enthusiasm is genuine and he says "I don't give a monkey's if I only
get one vote for myself. At least people are talking about cannabis. I've
helped to open up the debate and people's response has been fantastic."

"Some people say we arepromoting use of an illegal drug. We are not. We are
promoting open debate on the legislation. We don't advocate its use. I'd
love to be able to, but I'm not allowed," he adds.

The crusading zeal is clear. And so is his anger at the hypocrisy of
Governments, which raise billions in tax from alcohol and nicotine - both
killer drugs - yet criminilise "a natural product, which harms no one and
does many people good."

Prohibition of cannabis, he says, was bound to fail. Like American
Prohibition of alcohol, it is unworkable and has encouraged the rise of
organised crime. He quotes Francis Wilkinson, a former chief constable, to
support his case.

"An old bloke came up to me while I was canvassing, flat cap Albert Tatlock
type. 'When I was in the army in South Africa, we used to buy squiffy
black, a tanner a lump. Great stuff. The they opened the NAAFI selling
alcohol. That's when the trouble started,' he said."

'Nuff said.