every euro MP gets free bag of cannabis seeds as marc emery protests continue

European Parliament, Brussels, 13 September 2005:

All 730 Members of the European Parliament (M.E.P's) became 'in possession' of a bag of cannabis seeds on Tuesday (13th Sep), courtesy of the 'European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies' (ENCOD), which represents 120 'grass roots' drugs action organisations throughout Europe.

The European M.E.P's were asked by ENCOD to talk to the Canadian Minister of Justice Irwin Cotler, in order to ask him not to extradite Marc Emery, a Canadian citizen who is wanted by the United States where he risks imprisonment for life for the sale of cannabis seeds. In Canada, the sale of cannabis seeds has not merited a single prosecution for many years. In some EU countries, it is not even an offence.

ENCOD also asked the M.E.P's to take action against the current escalation of the war on drugs, which it describes as a major threat to the democratic principles of free societies.

Additionally, ENCOD requested the Members of European Parliament to challenge the recently approved 'EU Action Plan on Drugs for 2005 - 2008'. According to ENCOM this 'action plan' does not draw any significant conclusion from the official evaluation of the 'European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction' (EMCDDA), which clearly indicated that EU drug strategies have had no favourable results whatsoever.

In spite of the recommendations of the European Parliament (formulated in the Catania report of 15 December 2004) and those of numerous experts, civil society organisations and local authorities, the new 'Action Plan' does not contain any significant innovative approaches what so ever.

According to ENCOD, drug policy has long been designed in a vacuum, ignoring the signals from the public and the parliament, that something is going very wrong. Ignoring in fact, what goes on right in front of them.

ENCOD has also invited the M.E.P's to participate in a common effort to create space for innovative drug policies such as have been put forward by local and regional authorities across Europe.

'News of the Weed' says: "If any of the M.E.P's don't want their seeds, we'll have them. E mail us, and we will send our address."

SIGN THE PETITION FOR A CHANGE IN EU DRUG POLICIES - 'European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies'