Pubdate: Tue, 16 Oct 2007
Source: Evening Standard (London, UK)
Copyright: 2007 Associated Newspapers Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/914
Author: Nicholas Cecil
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

DRUG SEIZURES SPARK MPS CANNABIS RIDDLE

Police have made three cannabis seizures inside the Houses of
Parliament in the last two years, it has been revealed.

The news sparked speculation over whether it was MPs, staff or
visitors who smoked dope at the Palace of Westminster.

Nick Harvey MP admitted the drug had been found in reply to a question
by Labour's John Mann.

He said: "Since 2001 there have been three seizures of drugs, all
cannabis, all in quantities consistent with personal use. Two were
recorded in 2005, one in 2006."

Commons authorities declined to reveal where the drug was found or
whether MPs were suspects. A string of Cabinet ministers - including
Chancellor Alistair Darling and deputy leader Harriet Harman -
recently admitted smoking cannabis.

Their confessions came after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she used
the drug as a student.

The admissions put pressure on Conservative Party leader David Cameron
to say if he ever used drugs amid reports he was disciplined at Eton
for smoking cannabis.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake