UK: DRUGS DEBATE
Source: Oxford Mail
Date: January 31 2008
Author: Matt Wilkinson
---
A police raid on a house near Bicester where just 13 cannabis plants were
seized has prompted a flood of comments from people who read the story on the
Oxford Mail's website.
Scores of readers posted comments following the arrest of a 35-year-old man in
Fringford, near Bicester, for possessing and cultivating cannabis with an
estimated value of £1,000. He was released without charge.
One correspondent - Jane, from Oxford - said: "What crime is this man
committing to another person growing his own cannabis and smoking it in his
home?"
Another said: "No wonder people don't respect the police any more, they
don't arrest robbers and muggers, just law abiding citizens who smoke cannabis
in their own home."
Michael, from Abingdon, added: "If the police continue to make cannabis
harder to get hold of then there will be more call for harder drugs on the
streets and that will result in more drug-related deaths and more crime to fund
expensive drug habits."
Other readers supported measures to clamp down on cannabis users and dealers.
Alan Page said: "Cannabis destroys the brain and renders long-term users
little better than vegetables. My brother is a far brighter, funnier person
since he cut down his habit."
The Legalise Cannabis Alliance also questioned whether police should
concentrate so much time, effort and money on tackling cannabis.
But spokesman Don Barnard
added users of the drug should respect the job police were doing. He said:
"Laws are there to protect society from people who do dangerous things and
harm others."
Thames Valley Police released the 35-year-old man whose house was raided with a
caution after officers "uncovered a well-organised cannabis cultivation
set-up".
Spokesman Toby Shergold said: "Our officers were responding to concerns
raised by local people and if criminality is going on we have a duty to
respond.
"Cannabis remains illegal and factories are being uncovered across the
country run by organised gangs with proceeds going to fund operations such as
human trafficking.
"We tirelessly pursue dealers of all illegal drugs and in the last month
two have been jailed for dealing ecstasy, crack cocaine and heroin. We are also
targeting drug addicts who are committing crime to fuel their habit."
Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA)
http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2009271.0.drugs_debate.php