May 1 2004

By Staff Reporter, Birmingham Post

More than 100 people are expected to turn up at an illegal drugs festival in Birmingham today being held as part of a national campaign to legalise cannabis.

The Healing of the Nation Cannabis Festival is expected to go ahead in Cannon Hill Park, despite a city council ban, and festival goers are expected to openly smoke cannabis.

Despite a relaxation of drug laws in January, where cannabis was downgraded to a class C drug, people can still be prosecuted for smoking and possessing it.

A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said anyone caught smoking the drug would be told to leave the park by officials.

He added that the event had been banned because the park was used by families and children.

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

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

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "We are aware of this supposed gathering and we will deal with it appropriately.

"While cannabis has been reclassified we would remind people that smoking it remains a criminal offence."

A similar event is being organised for London next week.