Cannabis keeps crowds calm

[Bennyboy]

Dutch authorities yesterday revealed the secret behind the successful security operation for England's opening Euro 2000 match against Portugal - a combination of a quiet word, happy music and cannabis.
Despite the fallout between England fans and players following the 3-2 defeat there were no reports of any trouble outside the ground. Only five fans were arrested, all of them for minor offences, and not a single fan was arrested after the match.

England's disappointment on the field has been offset by temporary joy off it following one of the most peaceful matches involving its fans for over a decade, winning them rare praise from the police and city officials for good behaviour.

Johann Beelan, Eindhoven police spokesman, yesterday revealed the tactics that helped ensure peace in the city. He said police officers had toured the city with a list of names and photographs of known hooligans whom British authorities could not prevent from travelling to the Netherlands. The officers simply had a quiet word with them.

Around 100 known hooligans arrived in Eindhoven for the match.

"We told them that we were watching them and that we know who they are," a triumphant Mr Beelan said.

"We warned them they would be arrested and that they were being singled out for special attention. They were monitored throughout the day and even the hooligans told us that they would not create any trouble. They are probably saving themselves for this Saturday's match against Germany."

Police also claimed that the availability of cannabis in the Netherlands probably helped to defuse any violence. Scores of ticketless England fans gathered in coffee shops in Eindhoven, where cannabis is sold and smoked, to watch the game, greeting the defeat with mild disappointment and unusually, gentle applause. "It (cannabis) may have helped relax them," Mr Beelan added. "Even the hooligans enjoyed the party - and they told our officers. There were lots of things for fans to do and everybody had a good time."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2000/jun/14/football.footballviolence
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[ms liberty]

1. K&R n/t

[musiclawyer]

2. Not only that

Cannabis makes most eveything better: sex, sleep, food, pain, anxiety. With no side effects.. Legalize and tax Now!
Just two rules: Don't drive while high and don't eat it unless you are experienced and know the quantities required and your particular threshold.

[4_TN_TITANS]

3. Don't drive???

I'm even more cautious driving while high - much less likely to take my chances with timing, beating trains, etc.

[Tutankhamun]

4. Yet another reason weed is safer than alcohol:

Alcohol causes violence; weed prevents it.

[Bill USA]

5. yeah, but there were 2,500 times as many car accidents as fans leaving drove into each other & off

the roads. THe number of auto accidents were kept down though, by the fact that most fans couldn't find their cars and were wandering around the parking lots till the next day.LOL