Subj: Police chiefs urge ban on cannabis seed sales

Date: Mar 25, 1998

Source: The Independent

Police chiefs urge ban on cannabis seed sales

By Jason Bennetto, Crime Correspondent

New laws to ban the sale of cannabis seed and
dope-growing equipment are being urged by
police chiefs, it was disclosed yesterday.

The Home Office is also being pressed to bring in
legislation to introduce a new penalty forcing
people caught in possession of cannabis to have
anti-drug counselling. First-time users would be
given a choice between being prosecuted or
receiving a caution, plus some treatment.

Both ideas are being promoted by the
Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), in
an attempt to clamp down on the use and
availability of cannabis, which is the most popular
drug in Britain.

There is concern about the an upsurge in the
number of people growing cannabis at home in
the past five years, particularly the strong "skunk"
variety. Home-growers are exploiting a legal
loop-hole that allows them to buy cannabis seeds
and the growing equipment legitimately from
specialist shops and mail order.

The cultivation of cannabis plants is illegal, but not
the sale or purchase of seeds. Many cultivators
grow the drug for their own consumption, but
others produce crops worth tens of thousands of
pounds to sell.

Colin Phillips, Chief Constable of Cumbria, and
head of ACPO's drug committee, said he had
raised the issue with Keith Hellawell, the new
British "drugs tsar", and would be urging Jack
Straw, the Home Secretary, to introduce a new
offence of possession of seed and plant-growing
equipment with the intention of cultivating
cannabis.

He said: "A large number of shops, specialising in
the supply of hydroponic [water culture] growing
equipment, have emerged throughout the country.
it is believed that some even supply small cuttings
of cannabis plants. In addition, cannabis seed is
supplied wholesale through various distributors
nationwide. As the law stands there is no specific
offence of either supplying cannabis seed or
supplying hydroponic systems."

There are an estimated 500,000 illegal cannabis
plants being grown in Britain. Seeds cost from
£40 to £70 for a packet of 10, depending on
variety. Growing equipment, which includes trays
and a lighting system, starts at £75.

Mr Phillips is also keen for the Government to
adopt a scheme known as "caution plus", which is
being piloted in a small number of voluntary
projects including West Yorkshire and Bristol.

Under the system, anyone caught in possession of
a small amount of cannabis on their first, second
or possibly third time, is given the choice of
receiving counselling as well as a caution. Chief
constables believe this system should be made
compulsory, although they acknowledge it would
need a huge injection of extra cash to pay for
treatment centres and counsellors.

The number of cautions given for possession of
cannabis has increased almost tenfold in a
decade, from 4,048 in 1986 to 40,391 by 1995.