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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: DIY shop for cannabis growers
The Citizen (Preston) Thursday 12 Dec 2002 A SHOP selling seeds to grow cannabis plants and the equipment to make it into the drug, is opening in Preston next week yards from the city's police station. City Hydroponics Centre is believed to be the first 'head' shop of its kind in Preston and will open on Monday, in Great Shaw Street, in the heart of the student village. Due to a loophole in the law, police say they cannot stop it from opening but insist, "we don't want the shop on our streets". Owner, Paul Ali, from Fulwood, claims that shops like his are commonplace in city's such as Manchester and Brighton, and will bring Preston into the 21st century and rid it of what he calls its "village mentality". He has even expressed an interest in opening a drugs den in the city where people could congregate to smoke the class B drug. Mr Ali's shop sells special equipment which grows plants quicker using nutrients in either water or sand, but without soil. He said: "It's up to the individual what you grow. You can grow cannabis or lettuce through this system and it speeds up the process. "We are not unique to the North West, but we are unique to Preston. "Preston is a city now, so it may be time to shake off the village mentality. "I would consider opening somewhere for people to smoke cannabis, but not until it's legal to do so. "This isn't seedy, it's all out in the open and we will be very careful about selling to those underage." The seeds, sold as 'skunk seeds' over the counter at City Hydroponics, are used to grow cannabis. Mr Ali also stocks herb grinders, to break down the leaves, and stash tins for storing the finished product. He will also flog a range of pills known commonly as 'herbal highs'. Inspector Karen Simister, of Preston police's Residents Against Drugs Group, said: "It's illegal to cultivate and smoke cannabis but not to supply the seeds, that's the loophole. "We don't want the shop on our streets. Drugs are a 'no no'. What they are doing is not illegal so the police can't take action." City council chiefs say they have no powers to shut the shop down providing it complies with health and safety rules. They also confirmed that the shop is free to operate without any special licence. A council spokesman said: "Other than normal Trading Standards rules about the sale and condition of goods, anybody can open up a shop with success dependant on market forces." But North West MEP Chris Davies, who was convicted of possessing cannabis and fined £100 at Manchester Crown Court after holding up a small quantity of cannabis resin stuck to the back of a postage stamp in support for establishing Dutch-style cannabis coffee shops in this country, said: "What they are selling is all legal. In fact if they sell products that can be used for the smoking of cannabis, without the use of tobacco, then they are providing a public service and diminishing health risks." The news has also been welcomed by an arthritis sufferer. The man, who admits to using cannabis as a form of pain relief, asked not to be named. He said: "I started suffering with arthritis about twenty years ago. Sometimes it was so painful that I couldn't sleep. "I tried alternative therapies, and sleeping pills but none of them were satisfactory. "When my son gave me some cannabis, I was quite shocked at first. But it did make a significant difference, it really eased the pain. "I don't use it a lot, just when I'm really suffering. My son no longer uses it so I have had to find another source, which did put me in a vulnerable position for a while." He added: "I enjoy gardening and I shall certainly be interested in finding out more about this hydroponics technique." However, Councillor Ron Atkins, representative for Town Centre Ward, where the shop is based, said: "Anything that encourages cannabis smoking or drug taking is not good in my books and this clearly does that."
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