cannabisnews.com: Drugs Event Fails To Draw Crowds Drugs Event Fails To Draw Crowds Posted by CN Staff on May 02, 2004 at 12:08:02 PT Hope that 100 people would attend went up in smoke Source: BBC News A "cannabis festival" failed to draw in the crowds in Birmingham, with only one person bothering to turn up. More than 100 people were expected to smoke cannabis at Cannon Hill Park in Edgbaston on Saturday lunchtime. The city council were opposed to the planned gathering because the park is used by families with young children. But a BBC reporter who went to the park at about 1300 BST found just one person had attended. He had travelled from Chester to find he was alone. A mobile phone belonging to one of the organisers, who said they hoped to promote the "recreational and spiritual use" of cannabis, remained unanswered on Saturday. A similar event held in the park in 2002 attracted about 20 people. This year's dismal turnout comes after recent legislation downgraded cannabis from Class B to Class C, meaning police no longer automatically arrest those caught in possession of the drug. West Midlands Police said they sent officers to the park but saw no signs of any kind of gathering. The one person who did turn up as the event was due to start on Saturday lunchtime admitted that support was "a bit thin on the ground". The man, who wished to be identified only as Mark, told BBC WM: "Cannabis users aren't the fastest starters, are they?" Park rangers said on Saturday evening they had not seen any sign of a gathering taking place during the afternoon. Source: BBC News (UK Web) Published: Sunday, May 2, 2004Copyright: 2004 BBC Contact: newsonline bbc.co.ukWebsite: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Related Articles:Hundreds Expected at City Park Pot Festival http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18771.shtml'Cannabis Festival' Set for Parkhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18770.shtmlCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment