Jun 12, 04
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Pot-smoking allowed at major soccer meet
London, England, Jun. 11 (UPI) -- Officials at Lisbon's Euro 2004 soccer meet are going to allow pot-smoking in the stands in hopes it will make fans too high to fight.
The 10,000-strong police force assigned to the month-long tournament that begins this weekend will take a "relaxed" view of cannabis, expected in abundance along with England's biggest ever invasion of fans.
By the end of the weekend it is estimated 50,000 British supporters will have arrived. England's first match is against France on Sunday.
An official admitted authorities would rather fans were stoned and happy than drunk and violent, the London Mirror said.
"We will not be hiding behind doors waiting to catch people smoking a joint," police spokeswoman Isabel Canelas said. "We have to use common sense and our priorities during Euro 2004 lie elsewhere. Everyone knows everyone here can smoke cannabis and unless people are causing a problem, we are not expecting our officers to take action."
Link: http://washingtontimes.com/upi-break...3205-1076r.htm
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