Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jul 2004
Source: Hull Daily Mail (UK)
Copyright: 2004 Northcliffe Newspapers Group Ltd
Contact:  http://www.thisishull.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1181
Author: Carl Wagner, Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org

POLICE RESOURCES WASTED CHASING CANNABIS USERS

In a recent case, a man arrested in his own home for growing four
plants and for possessing a small amount of cannabis for personal
consumption appeared in court seven times in as many months before
eventually being handed a conditional discharge and being ordered to
pay UKP 100 court costs.

The "investigation" involved between 10 and 20 police officers, the
probation service, forensic science and several solicitors, barristers
and court officials.

There were no victims produced, every witness was paid by the state
and the cost to taxpayers runs into thousands of pounds.

This is an example of how police resources that could and should be
used to trace and capture violent and dangerous criminals are still
being used chasing cannabis users.

In the future the man will have to choose to continue to grow plants
for his own consumption or risk his health by buying polluted cannabis
on the black market.

The police, unable to determine which course of action he chooses may
have to stop chasing real crooks and visit him again.

Do any readers see any more sense in this than I?

Carl Wagner, Legalise Cannabis Alliance

Hull
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin