United Kingdom: medical cannabis bill passes first reading unopposed

A bill to legalize the medical use of cannabis in the UK passed its first reading in Parliament yesterday without opposition.

The legislation was introduced by Congressman Paul Flynn. At the same time, a «cannabis tea party» stood in front of Parliament where a few dozen pro-reform activists consumed spaces scones, drank infused tea and vaporized weed.

This act of civil disobedience had been prompted by Paul Flynn himself in July, when he urged any cannabis consumer to to come and smoke in Parliament. The purpose of the rally was to see if the police were prepared to arrest people suffering from serious illnesses who find relief in treating themselves with cannabis.

«The bill passed its first reading today unopposed,» said Rep. Flynn in an interview for Marijuana.com. «The other issue, which was more important, is that a small group of 100 people got together and broke the law. I invited them here and suggested [that they consume cannabis] because the law turned out to be garbage [an ass].. »

Flynn added that, fortunately, no arrests had been made. «They could have been thrown in jail for five years doing what they did. I think we have to tell the government now, if they're so cowardly and so unintelligent to believe that an illegal market is better than a legal market, it's up to the public to show they're wrong.»

Although Flynn had never ingested cannabis himself, he joined the protest and was prepared to take part cannabally. «I didn't consume cannabis today, but I would have if there had been arrests. I would have participated out of solidarity, after calling on people to do so. People were consuming cannabis in cakes, drinks and using a vaporizer.»

Flynn added that the bill itself still had a long way to go in Parliament, but is hopeful that it will pass if people continue the protests. «There were two police commissioners who came and joined the rally and supported it. That's very significant, people responsible for upholding the law were on the side of those breaking it.»

Despite numerous British government bounces back on the subject, Flynn truly believes the tide is turning. «I think there has been a change. People see what's going on in other parts of the world, and have seen the changes made to the laws around cannabis, without a collapse of civilization and without the sky falling.»

The bill will enter its second reading next February. You can watch MP Flynn's intervention ici.