Letter: Cannabis
Fight is Already Lost
Source: The Sentinel
Date: May 2 2007
Author: D. Wood
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Re: the story headlined Hunt for drug barons, Friday, April 27. When I saw The
Sentinel news bills outside the newsagents on Friday, declaring: Drug barons
target city, I expected to read about crack cocaine or heroin, but no, it's
those pesky cannabis plants grabbing the headlines again. The report included
the police admitting just what an easy target otherwise law-abiding cannabis
growers are. "We would have just kicked in the door, taken the plants,
made an arrest and we wouldn't have gone beyond that."This is not to
mention the devastating effect on the family, court appearances, a hefty
sentence, and a conviction which can lead to losing jobs (in healthcare,
teaching, etc) and possible evictions, as well as an average cost of £4,000 per
tax payer - well done there! Now, it's becoming more difficult for them,
because "surprise, surprise", criminal gangs are cashing in on the
huge demand for cannabis in the UK, and setting up houses full of the stuff.
Police suggest that if they keep fighting this battle "hopefully there
will be fewer people buying it, and less money to be made here". The
battle is lost, and I suggest that people don't want more money wasted busting
cannabis growers, as an easy way of achieving conviction targets. If cannabis
was legal, it would have no attraction to criminal gangs. Leave it to those who
want to use it to make themselves feel a little better, and for heaven's sake
chill out - it's just a plant.
D WOOD Stoke-on-Trent
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/
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