LONDON – Members of Parliament and marijuana activists had a pot tea party in front of Parliament Tuesday to protest against medical marijuana being criminalized. The party was put together by the United Patients Alliance, which is an organization that advocates for medical marijuana to treat people suffering from multiple sclerosis and other illnesses. Three Members of Parliament joined the party in support of legalization including Layla Moran, Paul Flynn and Tonia Antoniazzi.
It was a proper tea party including a spread of scones and cakes, all infused with cannabis, of course. The current law for possession of marijuana is up to five years in prison, but that didn’t stop activists from lighting up doobies on the lawn outside of Parliament.
Flynn sat at the head of the table loaded with cannabis cakes and said that Parliament had no evidence to condemn marijuana and that “It’s political cowardice. They are afraid of being accused to going to pot. I’m afraid governments get brownie points for appearing to act tough.”
The protest was planned to coincide with Flynn’s introduction of a bill planned for later that afternoon to make medical marijuana legal. The bill passed the first round unopposed. Flynn encouraged activists with chronic debilitating health issues to openly consume weed as a call to action back in July. His purpose was to dare police to arrest sick folks just trying to get relief. There were no arrests.
Two police commissioners even came to the party to support of the protesters. Flynn saidthat the current law has “proven to be an ass.” The bill has several more rounds before it can be passed, with the next being in February. But with the support outside of Parliament, Flynn is hopeful that people are starting to accept the idea of medical marijuana.
credit:themaven.net
