'Cannabis councillor' says he's grown out of it

10:44am Saturday 10th May 2008

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A Tory who called himself "the cannabis councillor" and claimed "hemp could save the planet" says he's turned his back on weed.

Tory councillor Chris Jackman says he has given up his interest in cannabis, which is soon to be reclassified as a class B drug.

Mr Jackman, 34, once campaigned for the legalisation of cannabis and championed the benefits of hemp, the plant from which the drug is extracted.

Explaining why he had ditched dope, he said: "I've moved on from that now.

"I'm a bit more mature and have a long-term girlfriend to keep me occupied."

Mr Jackman, who represents Wickford Park ward, sold hemp oil on the internet before he joined the council.

He was banned from the Conservative Party Conference at Blackpool in 2002 and 2003 for his involvement in selling hemp-oil lollipops. At the Edinburgh Festival in 2002 he had the cannabis lollies confiscated, but was later cleared of wrongdoing by Strathclyde Police.

The same year he dressed as Santa to hand out lollies, and hemp oil snacks and drinks in Basildon Town Centre.

On St George's Day, 2004, he held a meeting at Pitsea Leisure Centre to explain the benefits of hemp, which he described as his favourite plant.

In 2004, Mr Jackman spoke at Legalise Cannabis Alliance conferences. In a speech at the group's 2006 conference, he said: "I believe hemp can save the planet. The Governments of the world are saying no and the people are saying yes. Keep going everyone."

Council leader and fellow Wickford Tory councillor Malcolm Buckley acknowledged Mr Jackman's campaigning actions had been within his rights.

He said: "His decision probably comes with maturity and having a regular girlfriend which may have had an influence."

Jackman's bid to oust Tory leader
CHRIS Jackman's bid to challenge Malcolm Buckley for the leadership of Basildon Council's ruling Tory group failed - because nobody at the party's annual meeting would back him.

Mr Jackman was unavailable to comment, but fellow Tory councillor Andrew Baggott said: "Chris couldn't stand for technical reasons. He didn't have a seconder.

"Chris wanted there to be a vote, because Malcolm has been voted back in so many times uncontested. We debated the issue and Chris accepted he did not have the experience to be leader."

However Tory councillors, have told the Echo of growing tension in the party about the appointment of his wife, Sylvia Buckley, as chairman of the development control committee.

One said: "The majority of the group agrees this does not look good. It is about public perception. Some people feel either she goes as chairman or he as leader."

Mr Buckley is still considering other cabinet and committee posts, which will be announced on May 22.

He said: "This is just the view of one or two councillors. All appointments are made on each individual councillors' merits."