Cannabis campaigner weeds his way out of prosecution

A PRO-CANNABIS campaigner who posted the drug to members of the Oireachtas last November is not to be prosecuted.

Yesterday Luke Flanagan received a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) confirming that he would not face any charges over the incident.

"I knew about this 10 days ago. I'd been waiting for a letter, I got it today," said Mr Flanagan yesterday.

"I got a telephone call from the arresting officer, Garda Aidan Kelly, based in Pearse Street. I wrote a letter to the DPP last month seeking written confirmation."

Mr Flanagan has been jailed for possession of cannabis before. In December last year he refused to pay a £150 fine and was imprisoned in Castlerea Prison.

"Cannabis has been legalised as far as I am concerned," he said. Mr Flanagan had sent the cannabis to TDs and senators as part of a campaign to legalise the drug.

Commenting on the DPP's decision, Mr Flanagan said: "I find it amazing. The next time a person is in court for the possession of cannabis, can they not come along and say: 'I know another person who was found in possession of cannabis and they are not being prosecuted for it?'

"I cultivated cannabis; the State knows I cultivated cannabis. I am not to be prosecuted for it."

The letter from the DPP's office said: "Dear Mr Flanagan, I can confirm that a file was received in this office from the gardaí and that a decision was taken not to prosecute."

Mr Flanagan asked the DPP for a reason for the decision, but was told the Director was precluded from giving a reason.

The Department of Justice yesterday insisted there are no plans to legalise cannabis. "The law is the same and we're not aware of any moves to change it," a spokesperson said. As long as the law remains the same the gardaí will continue to enforce it, he said.