DON'T BE A DOPE, VOTE FOR A SMOKE

LONDON (Reuters) - Britons are being urged not to be dopes when they vote
- -- and to back the party that wants to legalise cannabis.

The Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) is making its first appearance at a
national election, fielding 14 candidates ranging from veterans of the
drug-fuelled "flower power" campaigns of the 1960s to a 75-year-old
grandmother.

The party insists it is not a haven for washed-out hippies, but carries a
serious message that cannabis has benefits, both environmental and medical,
and that a ban on using the drug infringes human rights.

"We feel that somebody has to stand up for the five million or so smokers
in Britain," said Alan Buffry, spokesman for the LCA and a candidate for
the Norwich South seat .

"We actually had about 150 people wanting to stand but because of a
shortage of funds it's been limited to the 14 of us.

"Some have campaigned since the 1960s and particularly in the last 10
years, and we haven't managed to get any of the politicians to open their
doors to us for either a discussion or a debate."

The party, which has legalising cannabis as its one and only policy, was
formed in 1999 to try and get the public and mainstream politicians talking
about the subject.

"Without our candidates I doubt whether there's going to be much discussion
about cannabis in the other constituencies," he said.

"At least where we are standing, we will be able to make it an issue, and
not just an issue regarding the medical benefits, but the benefits of using
cannabis to make more environmentally friendly-products from plastic to fuel."

No Illusions

Buffry has no illusions about the party winning any seats.

The LCA's first appearance at a parliamentary poll in the Kensington and
Chelsea by-election in November 1999 saw their candidate Colin Paisley earn
just 141 votes. The winner, Conservative Michael Portillo, recorded 11,004.

"We'll be happy to get our deposits back," he said referring to the five
percent of votes needed if candidates are not to forfeit the 500 pounds
they must put up to stand in an election.

"But what we have discovered is there is a lot more support out there than
the votes we get."

Previous surveys on the issue suggest he is right.

An ICM poll commissioned by the Guardian newspaper last year found 80
percent of Britons thought the drug should be decriminalised while
two-thirds of 18-34 year-olds considered smoking a joint to be no worse
than smoking a cigarette or drinking alcohol.

In 1997, The Independent on Sunday, backed by former Beatle Paul McCartney
and entrepreneur Richard Branson, became the first national newspaper to
call for the legislation of cannabis, running a year-long campaign on the
issue.

But, although some high profile figures -- such as Cabinet Minister Mo
Mowlam -- admitted to have smoking the drug, Labour has said it has no
plans to decriminalise cannabis.

Conservative Ann Widdecombe went even further last year when she called for
stiffer penalties including a 100 pound fine for first time offenders
caught in possession of the drug.

However, she was accused of making a hash of Tory policy and the party was
forced to make an embarrassing U-turn.