POLICE RESOURCES WASTED CHASING CANNABIS USERS – published letter

List of other articles and published letters on cannabis

Source: Hull Daily Mail, UK

Pub Date: Wednesday 28 July 2004

Author: Carl Wagner

Web: http://www.thisishull.co.uk/

Contact@ letters@hulldailymail.co.uk

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 £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,

Victoria Square,

Ella Street,

Hull.