MEPs fined for cannabis protest

Davies had cannabis at a protest at a police station

Two MEPs have been branded "highly irresponsible" by a judge for taking part in a protest over cannabis outside a Manchester police station.

Chris Davies, MEP for the North West, pleaded guilty on Monday to carrying the drug in what he described as a "political protest" in December 2001.

The 48-year-old Lib-Dem politician, a former member of the House of Commons Drugs Misuse Group, was fined £100.

Manchester's Crown Court at Minshull Street heard Davies had also been inspired to make the protest when one of his constituents was arrested after opening a cannabis cafe.

He believes this is a price worth paying in order to draw attention to his cause

Suzanne Goddard

The court was told he wrote to police beforehand to tell them of his intention to have the drug on him at the protest.

Davies was arrested on 15 December last year after addressing about 30 people on the legalisation of the drug and its medicinal benefits.

Marco Cappato, an Italian MEP and well-known cannabis campaigner, was also arrested on the same day and was fined £100 after pleading guilty to possessing 280mg of cannabis.

Costs order

Davies, of Higher Kinders, Greenfield, Oldham, was found to have just over 900mg of cannabis on him after his arrest.

Suzanne Goddard, for the defence, said Davies, who earns £55,000 a year as an MEP, was intending to draw the public's attention to the law relating to such drugs.

"He believes this is a price worth paying in order to draw attention to his cause," she said.

Judge Stuart Fish ordered Davies to pay nearly £2,600 prosecution costs

Cappato was ordered to pay costs of £2,335.