Malarky Returns to Glastonbury 2004

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This year I returned to that ever so laaaarrrrgggggeeee festival. Some call it gluttony, some Glastonbury. Arriving a day early meant the ground was dry when I put up tent. Rain, then wind, then sun, then rain. Sun, heavy rain, then it pissed it down again..........another washout at Glasto, surely not?

Were the masses affected? No. Faced with two alternatives: remaining in ones tent or getting out there onto the sodden site, thousands ventured out in search of grass!! Usually it is everywhere but this year there was none. Not a blade to be seen. And no, I wasn't referring to the grass which was and as always is in plentiful supply. And on that note, I noticed more than before the increasing number of individuals who pulled out a part smoked nine-bar (i.e. 9 ounces) of cannabis resin or a supermarket bag full of skunk which appeared wholly for their own consumption.

Widespread dissemination of information about the herb appears to have influenced users of the weed notably youth culture so much, that carrying large amounts is common place. Re-classifying the herb from class B to Class C (29 January 2004) means a lower maximum penalty for those found in possession. But beware carriers of large amounts for personal use, parliament passed a law (s. 284 Criminal Justice Act 1993 & schedule 28) increasing the maximum sentence for suppliers of class C from 5 to 14 years making the maximum sentencing tariff for Class C the same as that for Class B.

Thus, there is no real change in sentencing suppliers of cannabis although for possession the maximum is reduced from 5 years to 2 years. Those found in possession of large amounts of cannabis - even if genuinely for personal use - run the risk of being disbelieved and classified as suppliers for commercial gain or drug dealers and sentenced accordingly.

Inevitably, this means a prison sentence, sometimes of significant length!! If you have to carry it, be prudent and carry only a small amount.

Returning to the festival, didn't see as much as I would have liked. Nowhere to sit down. Dave Clarke, Paul McCartney, James Brown, Eat Static, Orbital was about as much as I could muster on the main itinerary.

The Stone Circle, tents full of tippees, a fair few cafes and bars were visited just to get some rest when travelling from A to B on site. Listening to DJFM's chill out set on Saturday afternoon as the heavens opened in the Workers Beer Bread and Roses bar was as close to relaxation as I could find given the conditions.

Yes, there appears to be more music, more arts and crafts, more of everything in fact!!! Was it better than last year? I thought so. Until next year.............out. Photographs courtsey and Copyright © Frank Malarky Check the thisisUll.com Gallery

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