THE DAY I 'SCORED' IN THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

Graham Ball was amazed to be offered cannabis in the Palace of Westminster

THE PALACE of Westminster, the Mother of Parliaments, call it what you will
for my money it is the greatest place to get topquality cannabis. Last
week, to my amazement, I "scored" in the Houses of Parliament.

The circumstances surrounding this unusual transaction were as follows. I
attended a press conference hosted by Dr Brian Iddon MP to launch the
publication of the book Drugs and the Party Line by Kevin Williamson. After
an hour, the conference ended and all present spilled out into the
adjoining Westminster Hall. Here, in the most hallowed heart of Parliament,
I became an outlaw.

Most of those who attended the press conference carried on discussing the
issue of decriminalisation and drugs policy as we rubbed shoulders with
MPs, visiting dignitaries and police officers. I had just finished a
conversation with the Earl of Stafford when a person I had never met
approached with an outstretched arm.

I put my hand out, anticipating an introductory handshake, but instead this
stranger pressed a large clump of fibrous material into my palm. The donor
had said that this was a contribution to the IoS decriminalise cannabis
campaign but when I looked up, expecting further explanation, my anonymous
benefactor had disappeared into the crowd.

I looked out through the glass in the great west door and saw Sir Teddy
Taylor MP pass; further off in the yard I could see the former Prime
Minister John Major who had just returned from the Westminster Abbey
service commemorating the Queen's Golden Wedding. Whoever had given me the
cannabis had penetrated some of the strictest security in Britain,
demonstrating the unworkability of the current law.

Later, expert analysis revealed that the "gift" was "South African DP" of
the highest quality, with a street value of about £10. I have no idea how
many other similar donations have been made inside the Palace of
Westminster.