31/01/2008 00:00:00
UK: Drugs debate
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A police raid on a house near Bicester where just 13 cannabis plants
were seized has prompted a flood of comments from people who read the
story on the Oxford Mail's website.
Scores of readers posted comments following the arrest of a 35-year-old
man in Fringford, near Bicester, for possessing and cultivating cannabis
with an estimated value of £1,000. He was released without charge.
One correspondent - Jane, from Oxford - said: "What crime is this man
committing to another person growing his own cannabis and smoking it in
his home?"
Another said: "No wonder people don't respect the police any more, they
don't arrest robbers and muggers, just law abiding citizens who smoke
cannabis in their own home."
Michael, from Abingdon, added: "If the police continue to make cannabis
harder to get hold of then there will be more call for harder drugs on
the streets and that will result in more drug-related deaths and more
crime to fund expensive drug habits."
Other readers supported measures to clamp down on cannabis users and
dealers.
Alan Page said: "Cannabis destroys the brain and renders long-term users
little better than vegetables. My brother is a far brighter, funnier
person since he cut down his habit."
The Legalise Cannabis Alliance also questioned whether police should
concentrate so much time, effort and money on tackling cannabis.
But spokesman Don Barnard added users of the drug should respect the job
police were doing. He said: "Laws are there to protect society from
people who do dangerous things and harm others."
Thames Valley Police released the 35-year-old man whose house was raided
with a caution after officers "uncovered a well-organised cannabis
cultivation set-up".
Spokesman Toby Shergold said: "Our officers were responding to concerns
raised by local people and if criminality is going on we have a duty to
respond.
"Cannabis remains illegal and factories are being uncovered across the
country run by organised gangs with proceeds going to fund operations
such as human trafficking.
"We tirelessly pursue dealers of all illegal drugs and in the last month
two have been jailed for dealing ecstasy, crack cocaine and heroin. We
are also targeting drug addicts who are committing crime to fuel their
habit."
http://www.lca-uk.org
http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2009271.0.drugs_debate.php
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=13221
Author:
Oxford Mail via UKCIA
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