POT DEMO BACKERS GET POLICE WARNING

Organisers of a pro-cannabis demonstration were warned by police last
night that there would be a crackdown on any blatant breaches of the
law.

A flyer circulating in Norwich claims that free samples of the drug
will be handed out to "all those in medical need" at the event in
Chapelfield Gardens.

The protest is being billed as a "Smokey Bears' Picnic" and coachloads
of people from as far away as Hull and Portsmouth are expected to take
part.

Pro-legalisation supporters have long promoted the use of cannabis as
pain-reliever and the demonstration - on September 26 - coincides with
the 71st anniversary of the introduction of laws banning the drug.

But police said any defiance of the law would not be
tolerated.

Chief Supt Roger Sandall said: "The supply of cannabis for whatever
purposes is a criminal offence and the police will obviously deal in a
firm manner with anybody either supplying or using the substance."

"Anyone attending the demonstration should be aware of this and should
not break the law."

He said police had not been informed of the event and appealed for the
organisers to contact him to discuss details of what was planned.

Jack Girling, Norwich spokesman for the Campaign to legalise Cannabis
International Association, is not involved as an organiser but backed
the event.

He said: "God made all plants and as cannabis is a plant, we have the
right to use it. I think these people are just exercising their right.

"If the law wants to involve itself, then it would be contravening our
rights."