MEET THE CANDIDATE: MARK GIBSON

Mark Gibson (Legalise Cannabis Alliance, Penrith and the Border)

Mark hit the headlines last year when his wife Lezley - an MS sufferer -
was cleared of possessing cannabis after a jury decided she was entitled to
smoke it on medical grounds. Mr Gibson will be campaigning on the grounds
that cannabis does not harm society and should be legalised for
recreational use. He may prove an irritant to incumbent MP David Maclean,
who said he thought cannabis takers he knew at university were "creeps".

Age: 37

Job: On incapacity benefit, awaiting an operation

Political experience: None

Agent: TBA

Hero: Howard Marks and Lezley Gibson (Mark's wife)

Top three issues: (a) Legalisation of cannabis for recreational use, (b)
Human rights, (c) Law and order

People should vote for me because...

"Cannabis is used by all sections of society. Most of us know a cannabis
user even if we are not aware of its use. Their use of cannabis is not
harming anyone, and should the law punish people who are not harming anyone?"