Lib Dem MP Layla Moran (pictured) admitted taking drugs at a protest to get cannabis legalised for medicinal purposes today
An MP has admitted taking drugs at a ‘cannabis tea party’ protest outside Parliament today with the aim of legalising medicinal marijuana.
Liberal Democrat Layla Moran joined two Labour MPs and dozens of patients as they launched their formal bid to legalise the Class B drug for medicinal purposes.
The protesters, backed by the Multiple Sclerosis Society, ate cannabis-infused scones with their tea on the lawns of Parliament Square.
When asked if she had dabbled in drugs the MP for Oxford West and Abingdon said: ‘Yes I went to university! I did inhale, yes I did.’
She added: ‘I don’t any more, I’m a grown up now, but for god’s sake.’
The Lib Dem continued by mocking Theresa May and her comment about ‘the naughtiest thing she had ever done’, saying: ‘I’ve never run in a wheat field, that I can say.’
The 35-year-old politician came to give her support to Labour MPs Tonia Antoniazzi and Paul Flynn who are trying to get cannabis made legal for sufferers of conditions like Parkinson’s and MS.
They and other members of the United Patients Alliance, who have campaigned for years on the issue, were surrounded by hemp plants and the smell of weed just yards from the armed police protecting the Houses of Parliament.
The protest outside Parliament in central London today marked the start of Labour MP Paul Flynn (pictured left)’s bid to change the law on cannabis use for sufferers of conditions like MS and Parkinson’s disease
Ms Moran, 35, said one of her best friends died of MS and went through ‘extraordinary pain’.
She added: ‘If there was anything that we can do to help them then I think this is a good thing.’
Although the three MPs declined eating any cannabis themselves, Ms Moran said: ‘Most people my age would not blink an eye at me trying to back a campaign like this.
‘They’d be like ‘duh, in fact, isn’t it legal already?’ because they hear about it in Colorado and things like that.
‘I think it’s a bit of a no-brainer, I’m fairly certain I’m on the right side of history here and in 20 years we’ll be ‘what was that all about, why did we have to campaign so hard to get it?.’
Mr Flynn branded government policy – which threatens people possessing cannabis with five years’ jail – ‘idiotic’, saying ‘It’s political cowardice.
The veteran lawmaker said: ‘They’re afraid of being accused to going to pot. I’m afraid governments get brownie points for appearing to act tough.’
Ms Antoniazzi told protesters: ‘It is criminal to be honest with you and we have to move forward.
‘If you are in pain you deserve to have something that will make your life better.’
Protest organiser Clark French, who has MS, said he had ‘no choice but to break the law’ and branding government policy on the drug an ‘absolute disgrace’.
Parkinson’s sufferer Ian Frizell, 56, filmed himself vaping cannabis to reduce his tremors in a video that has gone viral on YouTube with millions of views.
The former IT worker from Norfolk told protesters at the demonstration he had taken the drug every day for over two years.
Demonstrators ate cannabis-infused scones and drank tea just yards from police as Ms Moran (pictured right), 35, said: ‘I did inhale yes’ when asked if she had taken drugs
He branded it a ‘wonder drug’, saying: ‘They’re looking at the wrong evidence and skewed evidence.’
Mr Flynn will be putting forward a motion to change the UK’s policy on cannabis use for medical patients.
Although it has a slim chance of success, the changes would allow the production, supply, possession and use of cannabis and resin for medicinal purposes.
Earlier in the year, Flynn called on people who could face imprisonment for taking cannabis for medical reasons to break the law.
Flynn himself declined offers at the party to try some cannabis. ‘I’ve got to make a speech at 2pm,’ he said, adding that otherwise he’d be happy to take it and wouldn’t be worried about breaking the law.