POLICE TO TAKE FIRM ACTION ON CANNABIS DEMO

Drug Campaigners Plan To Give Away Free Samples In A Norwich Park

Norwich police today warned organisers of a pro-cannabis demonstration they
will crack down on any blatant breaches of the law.

A leaflet circulating in the city claims free samples of the class B 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 afield as Hull and Portsmouth are expected to gather at
the popular family park.

Pro-legalisation supporters have long promoted the use of cannabis as a
pain-reliever and the event, on Sunday, September 26, coincides with the
71st anniversary of the banning of cannabis.

Norwich police were unaware of the protest until contacted by the Evening
News, but said any defiance of the law would not be tolerated.

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

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

He appealled for the organisers to contact Norwich police to discuss
details of the protest.

Despite not being responsible for organising the protest, Jack Girling,
Norwich spokesman for the Campaign to Legalise Cannabis International
Association, backed the event.

He said: "God made all plants and as cannabis is a plant, we have a 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."

He added that cannabis was a "cure-all" and could provide relief for almost
any ailment.

But unhappy residents had also not been informed of the proposed
get-together in the park.

Derek Bickford-Smith, a member of the Chapelfield Society, said a family
park was not an appropriate place for a pro-cannabis protest.

"The great trouble with these demonstrations is that they cause even more
ructions.

"If they have to make a point, why do they have to disturb the whole
neighbourhood?"