London Cannabis Festival Faces Massive Licence Increase

South London authorities have raised the licensing fee for this year's Legalise Cannabis Festival from £2,500 last year to £24,000 this year, according to a report in the South London press.

A council spokesperson told the paper they'd reclassified the annual Brockwell Park protest, which last year drew over 30,000 smokers, as a commercial event, despite the fact that organisers never charged admission or paid staff, except security and garbage teams. The massive licence fee increase could easily scupper this year's demonstration, reflecting the continuing schizophrenic attitude of authorities towards the still illegal drug.

Last year's organiser Hugo Farmer spoke to Skrufff last year and even then was pessimistic about the implications of Government plans to reclassify weed as class C.

"It's very naïve to say that the battle's been won and it really annoys me when people instigate that suggestion," said Mr Farmer.

"We're going to continue fighting until you're able to go into a shop and buy a packet of 20 spliffs (joints)," he said.

His battle appears to be far from over.

http://www.schmoo.co.uk/cannabis/lonfest4.htm (Last year's event)
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