Police uncover cannabis factory in raid (From This Is Local London)

This small quantity of plants was more than likely simply a personal supply for the grower. If he/she was using it for pain relief, as is very common, they will now be suffering pain and certainly won't regard this as a "Good Result"
Instead of producing cannabis in clandestine and often very unhealthy conditions, as is encouraged by prohibition, we need to be moving towards a more honest and open system of regulation as suggested by Sir Richard Branson. Currently youngsters are easy prey for the villains who were given the entire market by prohibition. We need to protect the youth with a properly regulated supply with age controls, ID checks etc. Legalise regulate and tax for a happier brighter future.

Why don't we try taking a completely new approach to cannabis? Around three million people in Britain are regular users and whatever we do we're not going to be able to stop them.

We waste billions every year on police, court and prison resources when a large proportion of society uses cannabis without any problem at all. In fact, the only real problem with cannabis is that it's illegal.

The risks to health are very small - much, much less than alcohol or tobacco. By a recent analysis of mortality, hospital admissions, toxicity and propensity to psychosis, cannabis is nearly 3000 times safer than alcohol. Why not introduce a tax and regulate system and realise the benefits?

That way we'd have a properly regulated supply chain with no criminals involved, no theft of electricity, no human trafficking, no destruction of property and disruption of neighbourhoods. Then there would be some control over this huge market. There would be thousands of new jobs, sales would be from licensed outlets to adults only with guaranteed quality and safety. Then our police could start going after some real wrongdoing instead of trying to fight a crime that exists only because of a misguided government policy.

Also, very importantly, science now proves that cannabis is one of the safest and most effective medicines for a wide range of conditions. While the government promotes the lie that "there is no medicinal value in cannabis", it has granted an unlawful monopoly to GW Pharmaceuticals to grow 20 tonnes a year for, you guessed it, medicine!

Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR) published independent research on 14th September 2011 that shows a cannabis tax and regulate regime would provide a net gain to the UK exchequer of £6.7 billion per annum as well as reducing all health and social harms.

The only thing that keeps the present absurd status quo in place is weak politicians corrupted by Big Booze and the GW Pharma monopoly.

Go to the CLEAR website for full details: www.clear-uk.org

Actually if you want good information go to release! They are way more professional!

True, Brian. CLEAR has published misleading information about the new sentencing guidelines. More info on that here: http://www.campaign.

mondialvillage.com/r

elease/index.html

Compare the reliable information at Release here: http://www.release.o
rg.uk/comment/375-se
ntencing-guidelines-
for-cannabis-offence
s

PC Carol Godwin looks happy... ;)