cannabisnews.com: How Blair Stayed Cool at Spliff Time 





How Blair Stayed Cool at Spliff Time 
Posted by CN Staff on April 30, 2004 at 22:53:06 PT
By Patrick Barkham
Source: Guardian Unlimited
As great leaders know only too well, it is best to never be seen in the proximity of an oddly-rolled cigarette. Denials that you ever inhaled are also compulsory. So when the sweet smell of marijuana reached the prime ministerial nostrils at dinner one evening, Tony Blair could have been forgiven for racing from the room. But, as the source of the smoke, film director Robert Altman, reveals in today's Weekend magazine, the relaxed prime minister did no such thing.
Sitting opposite Altman, Mr Blair, who once said the one thing his father "drummed into" him was "never to take drugs", continued to enjoy an intimate meal with some of his rock'n'roll idols. The man Altman referred to as "the London dude" was more lead guitarist for Ugly Rumours than prime minister while dining at Dave Stewart's house during his first term as leader. Another guest at the musician's mansion that night was Jerry Hall. While Cherie Blair left early, Mr Blair stayed behind. When the after-dinner spliff was lit up, Mr Blair did not partake, according to the 79-year-old Altman, but appeared to have no objections, even though it was in the days before cannabis was downgraded to a class C drug. "We were sitting there smoking grass," Altman said. "He [Mr Blair] was sitting across from me, so I thought he was pretty cool." Mr Altman, who was in Britain at the time to make Gosford Park, said he was charmed by the prime minister. But the director of Short Cuts said he was later "disappointed" by Mr Blair's close relationship with President George Bush. He mistook the prime minister's "cool" for openness, he said, when it was in fact a pose. Mr Blair has always enjoyed mingling with stars of rock and film who have admitted using drugs. Few, however, have dared smoke a funny fag in his presence. While several in his governments, including Mo Mowlam, Yvette Cooper, and Caroline Flint have publicly admitting smoking cannabis in the past, Mr Blair has refused to admit he has ever been a consumer. Asked if Mr Blair had ever smoked cannabis, David Blunkett, the home secretary, once said: "Goodness me, he played the guitar very well, but it is not synonymous with having a puff."Complete Title: How Blair Stayed Cool at Spliff Time in Rock Star's Smoke-Filled Room Special Report: Drugs in Britain: http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/0,2759,178206,00.htmlSource: Guardian Unlimited, The (UK) Author: Patrick BarkhamPublished: Saturday, May 1, 2004Copyright: 2004 Guardian Newspapers LimitedContact: letters guardian.co.ukWebsite: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Site:Advisory Council On The Misuse of Drugshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/reschedule.pdf Biggest Shake-Up of Britains Laws in 30 Yearshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18261.shtmlVoters Want Even Softer Line on Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18220.shtml 
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Comment #2 posted by mayan on May 01, 2004 at 04:27:27 PT
I bet he smokes...
I can totally picture Tony Blair hitting some KGB(killer green bud) in his one and a half foot "G. Graphics Inc." water-pipe(with three foot extension and double piggy-back) until his eye-balls pop out! Clinton would have to light it and they would both definitely inhale! Phony Tony would probably like to legalize it but is merely a puppet like Clinton & Bush.On an unrelated note...Chilmark, Tisbury, Truro, Sudbury, Oak Bluffs, West Tisbury, Acton, Conway, and Lexington, MAEl Paso, TXPittsburgh, PAThose are the latest of the four states, 298 cities, towns and counties that have already passed resolutions, ordinances or ballot initiatives to protect the civil liberties of their residents.Bill of Rights Defense Committee:
http://www.bordc.org/index.html
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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on April 30, 2004 at 23:31:07 PT
It's so baffling
He idolozes them yet he wants them criminalized. He loves their culture yet makes his political future by pandering to forces that want the whole thing banned and forgotten.I know it's become the ultimate cliche but one has to ask, what's HE been smoking?
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