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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Cannabis farm near police HQ
David Barnes Blackburn Citizen
Wednesday 12 Jul 2006 A jury has been told how 54 female cannabis plants were found in an attic and locked bedroom at the house, which belonged to one of the defendants. And the following month 555 similar plants, with a potential value of between £55,000 and £70,000, were found growing in the business unit, just 80 yards from Great Harwood police station. continued... The unit's tenant was a man who had been employed as a postman for Royal Mail, but had not been in work, apparently due to illness, the court was told. Gary Knowles, 32, of Park Street, Stephen Scott, 34, of Mitchell Street, and Martin Grime, 33, of Conway Avenue, all Clitheroe, have gone on trial at Preston Crown Court where they deny conspiracy to produce and supply cannabis, a Class C drug. The court has been told that in January and February last year police searched two addresses, under the Misuse of Drugs Act and found large quantities of female cannabis plants growing in expensive, sophisticated and professional growing systems. The premises searched in January was the home of Knowles, the court was told. Miss Heather Lloyd, prosecuting, said: "Female cannabis plants have a greater yield than male plants and the unfertilised female flowering heads are regarded as being the most potent part of the plant. They are favoured by users, although both the flowering heads and leaves can be harvested and smoked." She said the potential yield for the plants seized at Park Street was between a £1,000 and £1,500. She said the estimated value of only some of the equipment there was around £2,400. She said Scott was the tenant of the unit, where he paid £280 a month rent. The prosecution allege that Knowles and Scott were plainly producing cannabis plants, cultivating it in order to supply to others. But Knowles told police in interview that he was growing cannabis for his own use, the court was told. Scott made no comment in interview, but provided a statement to say that although he knew Knowles and Grime, he had not conspired with them. The Crown claim that the defendant Grime was the link between Knowles and Scott. Miss Lloyd told the jury "He is the man organising and financing these productions. Unlike the others, who each earned less than £250 net per week, he did not work. "He paid no tax and claimed no benefit, but he was able to buy and sell property and buy buy expensive items." (proceeding) http://www.blackburncitizen.co.uk/news/newsheadlines/display.var.830746.0.cannabis_farm_near_police_hq.php
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