CANNABIS CAMPAIGNER WEEDS HIS WAY OUT OF PROSECUTION

A PRO-CANNABIS campaigner who posted the drug to members of the Oireachtas
last November is not to be prosecuted. Yesterday Luke Flanagan received a
letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) confirming that he
would not face any charges over the incident.

"I knew about this 10 days ago. I'd been waiting for a letter, I got it
today," said Mr Flanagan yesterday.

"I got a telephone call from the arresting officer, Garda Aidan Kelly,
based in Pearse Street. I wrote a letter to the DPP last month seeking
written confirmation."

Mr Flanagan has been jailed for possession of cannabis before. In December
last year he refused to pay a UKP150 fine and was imprisoned in Castlerea
Prison.

"Cannabis has been legalised as far as I am concerned," he said. Mr
Flanagan had sent the cannabis to TDs and senators as part of a campaign to
legalise the drug.

Commenting on the DPP's decision, Mr Flanagan said: "I find it amazing. The
next time a person is in court for the possession of cannabis, can they not
come along and say: 'I know another person who was found in possession of
cannabis and they are not being prosecuted for it?'

"I cultivated cannabis; the State knows I cultivated cannabis. I am not to
be prosecuted for it."

The letter from the DPP's office said: "Dear Mr Flanagan, I can confirm
that a file was received in this office from the gardai and that a decision
was taken not to prosecute."

Mr Flanagan asked the DPP for a reason for the decision, but was told the
Director was precluded from giving a reason.

The Department of Justice yesterday insisted there are no plans to legalise
cannabis. "The law is the same and we're not aware of any moves to change
it," a spokesperson said. As long as the law remains the same the gardai
will continue to enforce it, he said