In the past days, Trekt Uw Plant has again tried to obtain a clear answer on the question if the possession of cannabis for personal use in Belgium is allowed or not. Again, the authorities refuse to give this answer.

According to a ministerial guideline issued by the Belgian minister of Justice and the 5 Head Attorneys in January 2005, the registration by the authorities of the possession of an amount of cannabis for personal use (established at max. 3 grammes and one cannabisplant) by an adult, without the presence of aggravating circumstances or public disorder, will only lead to a Simplified Police Record (VPV). There will be no actions that lead to persecution and the cannabis will not be confiscated.

Antwerpen

A group of actors of the Moroccan civil society have published a document entitled "invitation to open the public debate on the legalisation of cannabis and its useful applications in Morocco".

This initiative came about after the failure of the erradication policies against the cultivation of cannabis in the north of Morocco, carried out under pressure of the UN and the EU. These policies have produced two results:

 the increase in the suffering of the peasants and their families, who after having their fields erradicated are not offered any kind of alternatives, which is in contradiction with national and international policies against poverty.

 many drug traffickers have changed their strategies towards the trade in illicit hard drugs and arms, that are sold to criminal and terrorist groups

Three times is ship right. On monday 5 May 2008, Trekt Uw Plant will for the thrid time a ministerial guideline on cannabis in Belgium. At 15.30 uur the president of the association Trekt Uw Plant, Philippe De Craene, will again plant a cannabis seed, from which his personal plant will grow. According to the guideline, the possession of this plant is not persecuted. This plant will be placed on a place where no disorder is being caused and which is not accessible for minors. The address of this place will be informed to the lord mayor of Antwerp, Patrick Janssens.

The planting of the seed will happen during a press conference that will take place in the Paviljoen, at the Konijnewei, a 100 meters of the Palace of Justice in Antwerp. This place is publically accessible, but the conference will be organised in such a way that minors will not be present.

On Saturday May 3d, 2008, from 14.00 onwards, on the Vrijdagmarkt in Antwerp, Belgium, the members of the association Trekt Uw Plant (Draw Up Your Plant) will put the seed of their personal cannabis plant. According to a mnisterial guideline issued by the Belgian state in January 2005 the possession of max. 3 grammes of cannabis and one plant, by an adult, is not persecuted. It can only lead to a simplified police record, the cannabis will not be confiscated.

PRESS RELEASE FROM CHECKPOINT

Checkpoint is going to start with a badge-system for visitors of the coffeeshop. Visitors will only be admitted to the shop when they can show their customer card.