HIGH TIME TO END HYPOCRISY, CALL: COUNCIL LEADER QUESTIONS DRUG POLICIES

A SENIOR councillor has branded Colchester town hall "hypocritical" for
licensing a market stall selling drug paraphernalia,

Tim Young, the borough's Labour Group leader, said that allowing the outlet
- - offering cannabis seeds, extra long cigarette papers and pipes designed
for smoking marijuana - to trade in Trinity Square flew in the face of the
council's drug policies.

He insisted that by licensing the stall, called Culture-Stir and decorated
with cannabis leaf motifs, the council was sending out the message that it
was socially acceptable to take illegal drugs.

Culture-Stir stocks a range of cannabis-linked products, all within the
law. Describing itself as "Bizarre Head Supplies", an advertising leaflet
for the stall offers more than 100 pipe designs. Stallholder David Beard
who has run a shop since 1986, said what his customers did with the
products was not his business,

Mr Young commented: "I was shocked when I saw the stall. I think it is
promoting drug use and I don't think the council should allow licensed
market stalls to sell that sort of paraphernalia.

"The council is a key member of the Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnership, which takes a very strong view on drugs issues, it plays a
full part in the Drugs Reference Group and we give a lot of support to the
North East Essex Drugs Advisory Service.

"It seems on the one hand we are trying to take a strong anti-drugs stance
to educate the public, but are perfectly happy to take money from this
stall. I think it's hypocrisy"

Mr Young said he had attempted to raise the issue with those responsible at
the council for issuing the trading licenses but had been told no
discretionary powers existed to ban such stalls.

Conservative councillor Richard Gower, who has responsibilities for the
allocation of the market stalls, pledged he would look into the issue,

Mr Gower, cabinet member for planning and transportation, said: "If it's
something that is against council policy and there is something we can do
about it, then we will."

Photo

He added that some people disliked the sex shops in the town, which were
disliked by some but were not illegal.

Yesterday Mr Beard invited Mr Young to visit the stall to discuss his
opposition. "My point is that I don't know 'what anybody will do when they
leave here, I can only guess about that."

He said one of the better selling items was a small brass pipe, known as
"clandestine", Other items on display included "rolling machines",
Rastafarian items and decorative throws emblazoned with the cannabis leaf
motif.

The South Africa-sourced cannabis seeds for sale come with a warning that
cultivation is against the law, said Mr Beard. He added he had tried
cannabis but did not smoke it any-more. His most recent customer, he
claimed, was a council employee who had bought 14 metres of cigarette
rolling paper.

I have my own moral code and that is not to sell any items to under 16s. I
will ID them if they look under that age," he said.

He added there were other shops in the town selling such paraphernalia but
claimed he was being targeted because of his prominence as a stall-holder