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'Cannabis councillor' says he's grown out of it
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| Reformed character - Chris Jackman |
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."
10:44am Saturday 10th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Kenyon Gibson, London on 7:22pm Sat 10 May 08
I mnet Chris here in London, and he is right about hemp. The lollies he sells never had drugs and the Tories are lucky to have him. BTW, just got a letter from Boris Johnson about the book I sent him, "Hemp for Victory: History and Qualities of the World's Msot Usefu Plant."
The Tories do more for the environment than Labour ever did, but they could do more.
Check it all out at www.hempforvictory.b
logspot.com
I mnet Chris here in London, and he is right about hemp. The lollies he sells never had drugs and the Tories are lucky to have him. BTW, just got a letter from Boris Johnson about the book I sent him, "Hemp for Victory: History and Qualities of the World's Msot Usefu Plant."
The Tories do more for the environment than Labour ever did, but they could do more.
Check it all out at www.hempforvictory.b
logspot.com
Posted by: evilc, essex on 7:13am Sun 11 May 08
Ideal councillor: 'break the law when it suits him'
Ideal councillor: 'break the law when it suits him'
Posted by: The Truth Seeker, Seeking truth everywhere... on 6:13pm Sun 11 May 08
Is it me or does he look like Harry Enfield?
Is it me or does he look like Harry Enfield?
Posted by: Daisy, Bas on 10:40pm Sun 11 May 08
Its "Loadsamoney!"
Posted by: Cheeky, Southend on Sea on 3:57am Mon 12 May 08
[quote][bold]The Truth Seeker[/bold] wrote:
Is it me or does he look like Harry Enfield?[/quote] Thank you !
I was trying to think who he reminded me of !
The Truth Seeker wrote:
Is it me or does he look like Harry Enfield?
Thank you !
I was trying to think who he reminded me of !
Posted by: Nigel on 9:39am Mon 12 May 08
I hope that Mr Jackman is kept firmly under wraps. As a parent, I do not want any one trying to send out the message that cannabis is harmless when it clearly has wrecked so many lives, and so often leads on to hard drugs.
The reclassification of cannabis is the one sensible thing that Gordon Brown has done, overturning the advice of trendy lefties and other loonies with similar views to those once espoused by Mr Jackman.
I hope that Mr Jackman is kept firmly under wraps. As a parent, I do not want any one trying to send out the message that cannabis is harmless when it clearly has wrecked so many lives, and so often leads on to hard drugs.
The reclassification of cannabis is the one sensible thing that Gordon Brown has done, overturning the advice of trendy lefties and other loonies with similar views to those once espoused by Mr Jackman.
Posted by: Roger, wales on 10:01am Mon 12 May 08
Hemp or Cannabis.
He seems unable to say which one of these things he has dropped.
Cannabis is one thing, but Hemp with the myriad of uses and benefits is has for our environement, it seems a little strange to be knocking that.
Hemp or Cannabis.
He seems unable to say which one of these things he has dropped.
Cannabis is one thing, but Hemp with the myriad of uses and benefits is has for our environement, it seems a little strange to be knocking that.
Posted by: Bill & Ben, Flowerpot men on 12:44pm Mon 12 May 08
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeed!
Posted by: CaptGuvner, Sarpend, Greater Loondon on 1:35pm Mon 12 May 08
"I'm a bit more mature and have a long-term girlfriend to keep me occupied."
How about applying more time trying to solve some of the towns's problems that you were elected for?
"I'm a bit more mature and have a long-term girlfriend to keep me occupied."
How about applying more time trying to solve some of the towns's problems that you were elected for?
Posted by: Kim Gandy, Rayleigh on 2:17am Tue 13 May 08
Yet another example of "adjust to fit" politics in the time-worn Conservative style.
Just the same as Labour really - the usual liberal "when it suits" approach.
As for him turning his back on it, never was the phrase "pull the other one mate" more appropriate.
Yet another example of what the residents of the Basildon administration area have fighting their corner. No wonder things are in such a mess and beyond sorting with attitudes like this.
This is one for Richard Littlejohn and his "here we go looby loo" awards.
Yet another example of "adjust to fit" politics in the time-worn Conservative style.
Just the same as Labour really - the usual liberal "when it suits" approach.
As for him turning his back on it, never was the phrase "pull the other one mate" more appropriate.
Yet another example of what the residents of the Basildon administration area have fighting their corner. No wonder things are in such a mess and beyond sorting with attitudes like this.
This is one for Richard Littlejohn and his "here we go looby loo" awards.
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