Bristol mayor candidate Craig Clarke fined for drug possession

“2ladybugs

Possessing cannabis is against the law in the UK, agreed (apart from GWpharma).

Yet not all laws are made to protect us, the current policy regarding cannabis offers no protection what so ever.”

“The "victim surcharge" is a fixed flat rate fee paid out by all low level crimes, regardless of the crime itself or whether a direct victim can be identified. Its then earmarked accordingly and goes directly towards the running and improvement of valuable services for victims of crime.

If a person is going to be punished financially doesn't it make sense they pay into something that can be tangibly fed back into society, in this case namely victim support networks, rather than randomly just filling the coffers of the home office.”

“A homeless junkie mayor is just what this city needs”

“I'm all in favour of a cannabis smoking mayor, he get's my vote.

So who does the £15 "victim surcharge" go to then? Himself?”

“@PoetPeter

What "good sense and courage"? He wasn't carrying it as a protest about its illegality. In his own words; "That day I happened to have some on me which was a big mistake and I wouldn't recommend anybody carrying it in public."

He just did something thick and you're trying to make out it was the act of a martyr.”

“Everyone who wants to see an end to the great immoral evil that is prohibition should take their hat off to Mr Clarke and salute his good sense and courage. Almost nothing else causes more harm to our society than the prohibition of some drugs and the failure properly to regulate the most harmful drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

The muppets commenting here and abusing Mr Clarke are victims of prohibition themselves, misinformed, misguided and filled with prejudice and propaganda funded by the alcohol industry and distributed by government and the media.”

“Definition of Mr Craig Clarke;

"A total and utter waste of space..."”

“Looks like the pro cannabis people have been on here waging war with their arrows! Regardless of your views on drugs, this man is clearly not suitable for political office. Don't think it's much of an issue, as being one of the lunatic fringe candidates, he'll only pick up a literal handful of votes.”

“A second charge of battery of a police officer was deleted,

" though Bristol Crown Court heard it could be proceeded with in another court."”

“The 'Battery' charge was deleted by the Courts, so it's very questionable as to whether there was any, or if it wasn't the Police against him? It's pretty well known how heavy handed Police can be, and it's extremely well known how passive a smoker is.”