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Classmates
of
UK
Home
Secretary
Straw's
Son
Hand
Him
Petition
for
Legalization
of
Cannabis
2/20/98
Jack Straw, the British Home Secretary whose son was caught selling
10 pounds (sterling) worth of cannabis in a pub at a time when Straw was
publicly and vociferously defending cannabis Prohibition, addressed his
son's class at Pimlico School last week. While he might have expected his
appearance to generate intense interest among the student body, he probably
did not expect to be handed a petition, signed by nearly all of his son's
classmates, urging the legalization of the substance.
The petition, titled "Stop turning young people into criminals"
was signed by over 100 students. Notably absent was the signature of Straw's
son, William. Classmates had not asked him to sign it, according to the
Independent on Sunday newspaper, figuring that he had been through enough
on the issue already. The petition stated: "We believe that medical
evidence suggests cannabis is less harmful than alcohol or tobacco, which
are legally available. Yet thousands of young people every year are turned
into criminals by the pointless and unworkable ban on cannabis. Without
in any way encouraging the use of cannabis, or indeed any drug, we call
on the Home Secretary and the Government to bring the law into line with
reality and legalize cannabis without delay." The students were members
of the sixth form, which means they are approximately seventeen years-old.
-- END --
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Issue #30, 2/20/98
Medical Marijuana Support Fund Established | Gingrich Calls Clinton's New Drug Strategy "The Definition of Failure," Pledges GOP Legislative Package | World Health Organization Suppresses Report Finding Marijuana Safer than Alcohol and Tobacco | Needle Exchange Volunteer Arrested in New Jersey: Letters are needed! | Protesting Penn State Professor Julian Heicklen, Four Others to be Charged -- High School Student Suspended for Three Days Without Hearing | Ex-Michigan Gov: Drug Lifer Law Inhumane | Medical Marijuana Activists to Open Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Across Eastern Canada | Interview with Canadian Medical Marijuana Activist Peter Young | Classmates of UK Home Secretary Straw's Son Hand Him Petition for Legalization of Cannabis | Job Opportunity: Drug Policy Foundation seeks Public Policy Director | Editorial: Bill, Newt, and the coming battle over the war
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