They didn't show up!
UKCIA recieved a press release from the Portsmouth Smokey Bears before the 2002 picnc, informing the media - and hence the police, that the law against cannabis would be openly challenged.

The police annouced that they would enforce the law and arrest anyone seen smoking cannabis, which prompted the screaming headlines in the local rag. In the event, they didn't show up, in total contrast to the last few years.

It seems it's even safe to smoke cannabis openly in public in Portsmouth now. Perhaps the police could be a little clearer about how they intend to enforce Blunketts half-baked proposed reforms?

In previous years the picnic has witnessed a hemp wedding, a celebrity joint rolling contest and the arrest of special guest Howard Marks.

The Smokey Bears dismiss recent Government plans for the reclassification of cannabis as confusing, incoherent and contradictory.

One Smokey Bear commented "the only way to control Cannabis is to bring it within the law, not to continue the same old failed policy of prohibition under a different letter." Plans to downgrade cannabis from Class B to Class C does not address or deal with the fact that 40% of people aged 18-35 have smoked pot and six million do so on a regular basis (Government figures).

Smokey Bears would support Government licenced outlets with age limits where people could legally buy and smoke cannabis. Police and court time would be saved by not harassing cannabis users, and valuable tax revenue would be generated from the supply and distribution. Cannabis is not addictive, shows little or no risk to health, and cannabis users do not start fights.

Dave Bear, a local activist added "The scandal of the government's policy on cannabis is that it leaves a multi million pound business in the hands of organised crime"

Wales and Party Stuff

Saturday night. Got some party info from one of the Desert Storm posse and after mucking around for a bit, got on the road. Police did their best to get really on top and bug out of everyone. A pretty average story, I hear of, every week.

The site that we were heading for had been going since Friday night but was now totally roadblocked. In fact the filth weren't content to just get in the way they got JCBs to drag massive rocks onto the access road. Er.. probably time to move on.

So you can imagine the scene as the Police helicopter starts to hover over the Service station near Bangor that we had pulled by chance [I thank baby Jesus that I needed to fart at that junction]. It was lucky that I did as those in the know were reassembling here to make a run for another site, some lake somewhere? Any way the general excitement and the increasing police presence at the service station exit led everyone to peel out of there. I don't know how I ended up at the front but there you go, they went round the roundabout indicating general cluelessness and by the time done this once the Police had blocked off all the exits apart from the one going back to England. Anyway faced with little alternative we truck down the A55 for 50 odd mins as the Police follow us trying to work out if we are going home or trying to find another site, if fact both the Police and everyone in the convoy were trying to work this out after 40 miles or so].

As the van at the front of the convoy finally tried to pull off, it's path was blocked by one of our friendly copper friends so after pausing for thought everyone pulled off, took the next exit, did a cross country tour to shake the rozzers and then pulled back on the A55. While Pc Plodd was the other side trying to still trying prevent us getting off the Denbeigh exit, we're on completely the other side and we've lost them!

It took forever to cover the next 30 miles as by now we're built up a real posse mentality [strength though unity] and have to wait for this beat-up ambulance to get up all the hills. Absolutely amazing buzz as we did get to a moorland/forest site, with a party already underway and the other convoys trickle in. After a while 4 sound systems get up and running! And this wasn't the only site where there was a party happening. There was one a few miles down the road and fuck know where else.

The best thing was that this wasn't really like a local Welsh party amphetamine Holyhead hardcore affair [where the atmosphere can be a bit flat], but more of a mini-festival with sound systems from all over; Reading, Chester, Bristol. And people from even further afield. A lot of people were very happy about this and the tunes were good. Cartoon acid, manic good tribal stuff, cheesey but good sounds from the deep house free party babble sound, a large reading sound system doing Drum and Bass but this was more stop and start as the generator packed up before a vibe could build and some ripping techno sounds mounted on a flatbed truck kicking out in the morning.

Small was beautiful on this day though as although I'm sure that the whole thing would have been massive if the Police had let it continue at Deiniolen. This just proved that they can move the thing on but they can only break it up into little ones that are often just as good if not better. If you just get loads of people and soundsystems in one area of the country at the same time then you can't help but have good parties. This is especially true in Wales and places where you can get away from nosey neighbours.

The systems that are around at the moment are tough little units and the fact that mobile phones are so common now makes coordinating parties on the move like that a LOT easier. The trick to having a successful night out on a bit of a chaotic night is to stick to the convoys no matter what OR get the mobile number of someone who is on the case with a sound-system. Ring them up and see where They are! But in fact this is pretty much what was happening anyway. . Right now the priority should be to tell everyone what a good laugh they are!

Ribblehead
I am an old traveller in the sense!! That I was on the road since i was 3 but am now 19 in a flat. My parents Chris and Zoe did lots of stuff and i know you’ve met lots of people but still may have photos of Chris and Zoethey were part of the travellers school bus or any of the early Ribblehead because my parents claim to be some of the original people to have gone out there to pick mushrooms. i remember that we went a few times and made a miniature stonehenge we went about four times then it suddenly turned into a really big gathering.

Wow, That all takes me back:-)
I was living in a bus in 1990,and before that had done abit of travelling about for the odd weekend etc.I actually hated the bus,well,the company I should say.My then partner was just so different to myself and we ended up living how he chose and not “The compromise”(As I’m sure there was one.)I was,and still am,the quieter type,he was always the “I have to party and drink” type(not that I dont mind a bit of a party myself mind)My aim was to go horse drawn but most’s opinion was “too slow” Mine was “Whats the rush”.
Been thinking of those times alot lately,ha ha what I don’t miss is the hassle of the police and the fear that gets into people when a few travellers move into a field,and the time’s when you didn’t cook the chick peas right and the shit pit was a fair trudge away....in the rain:-) (With ref to Pucklechurch layby)
Sometimes I think I’d give it a go,but it was a hard life.
Well,shall go read up some more on your site,I’d like to know where travellers stand now when parking up,as I know a while back the whole law changed didn’t it,where I think you could get moved on immediately.Just before I sold my VDUB camper I went to Hay on Wye and on the way(I went thru Hergest as I saw on the map tjhere was a Hergest Ridge there and thought”Isnt that a Mike Oldfield record??” saw a wagon and horse parked in a field,should have stopped and chatted but was in a rush.Was really good to see it tho.
Love the site anyway,have book marked it and will have another read tomorrow.I found you by accident by the way,typed in “Cantlin stone” in Yahoo.I live nr it and have been there years ago,but nobody here seems to have heard of it...funny!!
Bye, Deb