Britain's Foreign Office Issues Foreign Drugs Warning

UK authorities published a new booklet this week warning against trafficking or using drugs abroad in response to the 1,300 Brits detained for drugs offences in the first 3 months of 2003.

The booklet warns that many detainees are held in 'very harsh' prison conditions warning 'many foreign countries refuse to grant bail before trial and often detain people in solitary confinement' and has been endorsed by Sandra Gregory, who served four 'traumatic and terrifying' years in a Thai jail.

Though Gregory was busted for heroin offences, the Government's website points out that all drug users risk prison in Thailand, warning 'possession of even very small quantities can lead to imprisonment. Possession of Marijuana can lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years'.

Brits smoking pot in Canada could also find themselves locked up following the imprisonment of civil liberties activist Marc Emery, who was convicted of trafficking this week. Legalise cannabis campaigner Mr Emery from the BC Marijuana Party was sentenced to three months for dealing, after cops spotted him passing a joint to a friend.


==">http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html-id=6caa6f08-a050-4bfb-8825-14f3ea50bd6f ('Even if no money exchanges hands -- if you're simply offering a puff to another person in the spirit of generosity floating in the air at a Grateful Dead concert -- you can be considered a trafficker under Canadian law and face five years in a federal penitentiary . . .')

-pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618386505 (Official UK travel warnings for Thailand: '. . . There have been a number of incidents where tourists have had their drinks drugged (in both tourist areas and red light districts) by prostitutes/transsexuals ("lady boys"). This can cause severe mental problems . . .')

== Tags

• Jonty