LEGALISE POT, SAYS HARRELSON

American actor Woody Harrelson yesterday brought his campaign to legalise
cannabis to Ireland. The Texan actor, known for his controversial role in
Natural Born Killers, was speaking at the Galway Film Fleadh.

Mr Harrelson has narrated Grass, a documentary chronicling 50 years of US
government anti-cannabis policy, which is being shown at the fleadh.

The actor didn't choose to be a campaigner for legalising cannabis, he
said. "It chose me because my friends went to jail over it. That's when I
started speaking about it."

The US spends $101 billion annually fighting illegal drugs, Mr Harrelson
claimed. The cannabis eradication programme, which involves destroying
hemp, costs half-a-million dollars a year. Hemp can also be used to make
clothes and paper.

"I'm not saying cannabis is harmless. Anything that's abused can be
harmful. Drugs are usually taken to relieve pain, especially emotional
pain. But everyone should have the right to use whatever drug they choose,"
Mr Harrelson said.

Eight US states have already legalised medical marijuana, he explained. His
campaign to legalise the drug for general use will continue.