Pubdate: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 Source: Independent on Sunday Author: Graham Ball Contact: Email: Mail: Independent on Sunday, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DL England Editors note: The IoS Cannabis Campaign has web pages at http://www.independent.co.uk/sindypot/index.htm THE MARCH GAINS MOMENTUM London is set for its biggest pro-cannabis demonstration for 30 years. THE clock is counting down to the biggest pro-cannabis demonstration in Britain for 30 years. Next Saturday the Independent on Sunday's campaign to decriminalise cannabis takes to the streets of London. In addition to all those who have already signed our rolling petition and the thousands of other supporters who have pledged to back our march, we will be joined by a growing list of politicians, drug reformers and celebrities. Not surprisingly the newly politicised pop music business is eager to help. Chumbawamba, whose anti-New Labour rap and drenching of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott caused a sensation at the Brit Awards last month, want to be there. Another leading band, Dodgy, is also committed to the campaign and hopes to take part in the march in between gigs. Other bands and performers scheduled to join in include Tricky, Divine Comedy, Paul Weller, Cast, Space, Primal Scream, Finley Quaye and Tom Robinson. News of the IoS initiative last week spread across the Atlantic with delegates from the pro-cannabis alliance groups "Cures Not Wars" in New York and "MassCan" in Boston both saying that they would be flying to London to take part. "We wish to endorse the action being taken in the UK and emphasise the growing strength of the international movement against prohibitionist drug policies," said Robert MacDonald of "Cures Not Wars". Whilst in London, Mr MacDonald and his co-campaigner from Boston, George Cewicz, plan to release details of their proposed "Million Marijuana march" due to take place in the US next year. It was also confirmed last week that Europe's "father" of non-violent political demonstrations, Marco Pannella, the founder of the Italian Radical Party, is to march and speak at the rally in Trafalgar Square. Mr Pannella, a close colleague of European Commissioner, Emma Bonnino, who also supports our campaign, has been battling for the abolition of criminal penalties for cannabis use for 25 years. He will be accompanied by supporters from Italy, France, and Belgium and by a group of MEPs including Gianfranco Dell'Alba and the leader of the Transnational Radical Party, Oliver Dupuis, who will also speak at the rally. Other speakers will include Howard Marks whose cannabis trading exploits once placed him top of the FBI's most wanted list, Paul Flynn the Labour MP leading the campaign to change the law in Parliament and Rosie Boycott, the editor who started the campaign in the IoS. THE ROUTE Campaigners should assemble in Hyde Park at mid-day, next Saturday, 28 March, at Reformers Tree. It is estimated that the march from the park to Trafalgar Square will take approximately one and a quarter hours and campaigners are requested, in the interests of safety, to abide by the instructions of our orange-clad march stewards. The Metropolitan Police will be in attendance and where criminal activity is detected, they are bound to deal with it. Coach parties are advised to set down in Park Lane (north bound) and pick up after the march on the Victoria Embankment. The rally should end at about 4pm. For more information about the 'Independent on Sunday' march please contact Debbie Ellis or Chris Brown on 0181-964 2692. AND NOW GET THE T-SHIRT THE best dressed marchers will want to wear one of our exclusive IoS cannabis campaign T-shirts. The 55 per cent hemp and 45 per cent cotton shirts carry our distinctive logo and are available in medium and large sizes (suppliers warn they are a big medium and large). The shirts cost £10. Cheques and postal orders (made payable to BDI) should be sent to the following address: BDI. PO BOX 1080 BRIGHTON, BN1 4DL (Tel: 01273-239770).