From: Cannabis campaigners' Guide
http://www.ccguide.org.ukSource: East Anglian Daily Times, UK
Pub Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002
Pub LTE: Justice system has really gone to pot.
Author: Alun Buffry
Contact; EADTLetters@ecng.co.uk
JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS REALLY GONE TO POT
How ridiculous to take John Ramirez to Ipswich Crown Court for £5.00 worth of cannabis! ("
Cannabis user fined after home raid", EADT, January 12)It was reported that Mr Ramirez was to be £400 out of pocket after his ordeal in Court for a tiny amount of the plant.
That sort of fine is disproportionate to the crime, which in any case ought not top be a crime at all, especially in ones own house.
But the cost to the taxpayer was much more than that.
It must have amounted to thousands.
Since there were no victims to Mr Ramirez's possession of cannabis, one must ask whether the prosecution was in the public's interest.
Alun Buffry
Norwich
Norfolk