British MP calls for cannabis use in Parliament

Published

9 years ago

July 19, 2017 - Updated February 7, 2018

United Kingdom - An MP calls for the legalization of cannabis

In the United Kingdom, Paul Flynn, a Labour Party MP, urged the British public to break the law and smoke cannabis in the House of Commons in order to «send a message» about the government’s drug policy.

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In fact, during a debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday, July 18, the former veteran stated that using cannabis in Parliament is «the only way to reach the minds of the British government.».

Cannabis is currently classified as a Class B drug in the United Kingdom. The Labour MP had campaigned for the laws to be changed to allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

An Unjust Drug Policy

The 82-year-old lawmaker is calling on the government to regulate cannabis for medical purposes. «I know that we, as members of Parliament, are not authorized to do so. But I would call for civil disobedience so that they come here and use cannabis, to see what happens and to defy the government and the authorities,» he said.

Elizabeth Brice, who had multiple sclerosis, campaigned for the legalization of medical cannabis. Prohibition is stupid and cruel # Drug Debate pic.twitter.com/sjEPLDzMc6

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- Paul Flynn (@PaulFlynnMP) July 18, 2017

During the debate, he explains that Elizabeth Price, a woman suffering from multiple sclerosis had campaigned for medical cannabis before his death in 2011.

Mr. Flynn also stated: «She came to the House, and together we committed a ‘terrible crime’ on the terrace of this House because I gave her a cup of hot water into which she put cannabis.».

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He then explained that she was «likely to go to prison» and that he would have gone with her. «I must say that this highlights the barbaric stupidity and cruelty of the government’s policy, which refuses to acknowledge treatment options for serious illnesses and the solutions people have for healing themselves,» he says.

In addition, Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb has also called for changes to the cannabis law. As a reminder, last May, the British Liberal Democrats was the only party willing to commit on the legalization of cannabis during the general election.

Mehdi Bautier