Pubdate: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 Source: The Evening Telegraph, Peterborough, UK Contact: Ernie Powell CANNABIS DEBATE STIMULATES VOTES IF the Legalise Cannabis Alliance candidate Marcus Davies stands for East Ward, I will certainly vote for him. This is not because I wish to encourage the "drug culture". I want to approach Mr Davies's candidacy with an objective and unhysterical eye. The reaction of Peterhorough's political establishment seems to be grossly disproportionate - favouring a safe contest between the same old boring political machines. Cllr Cathy Weaver's comment that "the police may be interested in this individual" (Evening Telegraph, March 29), is way over the top. Davies only wants to stand for election, not supply Clir Weaver with 'hash". Regardless of what people think about cannabis, there is such a level of alienation from the political process that even hardline opponents of decriminalisation may support him, to register contempt for self-serving politicians of all parties I have not voted in local elections for years, but with Mr Davies promising to enter the race, their is just a whiff of controversy in the air to stimulate me to get down to the polling booth. ERNIE POWELL, Eastfield, Peterborough - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea