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Pro-cannabis party given TV airtime ahead of poll

NEW political party calling for cannabis to be legalised is to be allowed to promote its campaign with TV election broadcasts in Northern Ireland.

Cista - 'Cannabis is safer than alcohol' - will be on the ballot paper in three of the north's constituencies in May's Westminster poll.

Its West Tyrone candidate is Barry Brown (38), pictured, who previously worked as an assistant to MLA Joe Byrne and stood for the SDLP in the 2011 local government election.

Andrew Magorrian (22) and Glenn Donnelly (35) are standing in South Down and North Down respectively.

The party, which is fielding up to 50 candidates across the UK, aims to secure a royal commission to review drug laws.

Its decision to contest three of the north's 18 constituencies means Cista is entitled to airtime for a regional election broadcast, though it will not be allowed a similar slot in Britain because the party is not represented in enough seats.

It is thought to be the first time in Ireland or Britain that a political party has promoted a 'legalise cannabis' message on prime-time television.

Communications regulator Ofcom confirmed that Cista's broadcast will air on BBC, UTV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 as well as on radio stations Talksport and Classic FM.

Last night Mr Brown told The Irish News he would base his campaign on "sound economic and social arguments" and that the broadcast would reflect this.

"We're looking to foster an intelligent, mature debate about the merits of legalising cannabis," he said.

"We want to move away from the image of people with dreadlocks skinning up joints and highlight the positive economic, medicinal and social attributes of cannabis."

Mr Brown, who has been a recreational cannabis user for 20 years, made the decision to stand in May's election just two weeks ago.

He claimed the so-called war on drugs has failed and that scarce resources are being used to criminal-ise otherwise law-abiding people.

Last month The Irish News revealed that a former Conservative Party member from Omagh is contesting a seat for Cista in north London.

Shane O'Donnell (32) is running against Green Party leader Natalie Bennett and high-profile Labour candidate Keir Starmer in the constituency of Holborn-St Pancras.