cannabisnews.com: Police Say Drugs Protest MEP Wasted Officers' Time Police Say Drugs Protest MEP Wasted Officers' Time Posted by FoM on December 15, 2001 at 11:40:20 PT Ananova Source: Guardian Unlimited A Euro-MP arrested and charged for possession of cannabis has been attacked by police for wasting their time. Liberal Democrat Chris Davies was taking part in a protest against Britain's drugs laws outside Stockport police station. He has been ordered to appear before magistrates in the Greater Manchester town later this week. It took 12 police officers to arrest Liberal Democrat Chris Davies after he arrived brandishing a tiny amount of the drug on the back of a postage stamp. The force's Assistant Chief Constable, Med Hughes, has criticised the MEP for "wasting the time of hard-working officers" instead of campaigning to change laws on the drug through British and European political institutions. But Mr Davies, MEP for the North-West of England, said that as a member of the European parliament, he was in no position to lobby for a change in British laws. He said: "I am a European MP and have no influence over domestic law. I represent countries where the law has already been changed and am just hoping that Britain can be brought into line with European best practice." Chris Davies, who is due at Stockport Magistrates Court on Thursday, December 20, said he had been assured by the officers arresting him that they had been enjoying a relatively quiet day and that he had caused them "no problems at all". Earlier, Mr Davies had led dozens of cannabis campaigners on a march through Stockport in the latest in a string of protests following the opening of Britain's first Amsterdam-style coffee shop in the town. The coffee shop - The Dutch Experience - was opened earlier this year by cannabis campaigner Colin Davies, who is being held on remand at Strangeways prison on drugs charges. He is no relation to the MEP. Source: Guardian Unlimited, The (UK)Published: Saturday, December 15, 2001Copyright: 2001 Guardian Newspapers LimitedContact: letters guardian.co.ukWebsite: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Site:Dutch Experiencehttp://www.dutchexperience.org/Euro MP Arrested on Cannabis Marchhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11580.shtmlEuro MP's Drugs Protest http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11549.shtmlPolice Station Cannabis Protest http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11414.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on December 15, 2001 at 15:02:50 PT Right on, Mr. Davies! >>The force's Assistant Chief Constable, Med Hughes, has criticised the MEP for "wasting the time of hard-working officers" instead of campaigning to change laws on the drug through British and European political institutions. EVERY drug arrest wastes the time of hard-working officers. What Mr. Davies was doing is dramatizing this point, shoving it in the faces of the elected officials. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by john wayne on December 15, 2001 at 12:35:13 PT at the keystone cinema well of course it took 12 cops to subdue this politician "brandishing" a speck of pot. As big broth^H^H^H^H president bush tells us, drugs=terrorism. Suppose the pot speck had been timed to go off like a bomb? Suppose it had been covered with US militar^H^H^H^H^H right -wing happy dust?Let us all bow our heads in silent prayer for the bravery of these police officers in their time of greatest danger. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Robbie on December 15, 2001 at 12:30:45 PT Oh, this is rich! The force's Assistant Chief Constable, Med Hughes, has criticised the MEP for "wasting the time of hard-working officers" instead of campaigning to change laws on the drug through British and European political institutions.If there was no freakin' law against it, you wouldn't have to arrest him, you dolt!!! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment