Skip to main contentAccess keys help

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
Last Updated: Friday, 30 April, 2004, 06:57 GMT 07:57 UK
'Cannabis festival' set for park
Cannabis smoker
Anyone caught smoking the drug will be asked to leave the park
A controversial festival to promote drugs is expected to go ahead despite a council ban.

Up to 100 people are expected to smoke cannabis in Cannon Hill park, in Birmingham, on Saturday.

Despite a relaxation of drug laws, introduced in January, people can still be prosecuted for smoking and possessing cannabis.

Anyone caught smoking the drug will be told to leave by officials from Birmingham City Council.

Two years ago a similar event was held in the park which attracted about 20 people but organisers are expecting greater numbers this year.

Cannabis has been downgraded from Class B to C, which means police will no longer automatically arrest those caught in possession of it.

Organisers said it was highly likely people would bring quantities of the drug to the festival for their own personal use and it was up to the police to confiscate the cannabis if they wanted to.

The council said the event had been banned because the park was used by families and children.




RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia
UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health
Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes
AmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia Pacific