Routine vehicle stop leads to cannabis plant haul (From Durham Times)

If its not bikers killing themselves, or farmers running into vehicles, its the NE's staple industry. Drugs, booze and knocked off fags

If it was not for the black & grey economy where would we be in the NE?

Yet again you slag the police off. Make your mind up you either state that the police are too lenient or like them to state police. Do everybody a favour and at least put a few seconds of thought in your comments.

There's no such thing as a "routine vehicle stop" as described here.

There needs to be reasonable suspicion doesn't there?

Any officer can stop any vehicle on any road for a simple routine check. The search however has to have reasonable grounds. But if anyone has ever smelled cannabis then I am pretty sure the grounds will speak for themselves.
And Dean M - people like you are never happy.
Good job by the old bill. Get the druggies off our streets.

TheSeer wrote:
Any officer can stop any vehicle on any road for a simple routine check. The search however has to have reasonable grounds. But if anyone has ever smelled cannabis then I am pretty sure the grounds will speak for themselves.
And Dean M - people like you are never happy.
Good job by the old bill. Get the druggies off our streets.

well said bang them up instead of letting them off...druggies ruin communities..

We need to stop this stupid and unwinnable war against cannabis. It is causing far more harm to our communities than it prevents. If we had a properly regulated system of production and supply we'd have no more illegal cannabis farms, instead we'd have thousands of new jobs. We'd have no more dealers on the streets. Cannabis would be available to adults only through licensed outlets and we'd have some control over the THC and CBD content.

Doctors would be able to prescribe one of the safest and most effective medicines that has no serious side effects at all. At the moment the government has given GW Pharmaceuticals an illegal monopoly on cannabis so they make millions out of a medicine that you can grow in your greenhouse for virtually nothing.

If we introduced a legally regulated system we would solve nearly all the problems around cannabis. Science proves how much safer it is than tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines and all other recreational drugs. If anyone does have a problem with it they could get help without having to confess to a crime.

CLEAR published independent, expert research last year which shows that a tax and regulate policy on cannabis would produce a net gain to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion per annum.

It is a scandal that our government, our judges, our courts, our police and our newspapers keep misleading us about cannabis. Find out the truth for yourself and wake up to the lies you have been told..

TheSeer wrote:
Any officer can stop any vehicle on any road for a simple routine check. The search however has to have reasonable grounds. But if anyone has ever smelled cannabis then I am pretty sure the grounds will speak for themselves.
And Dean M - people like you are never happy.
Good job by the old bill. Get the druggies off our streets.

The only way to get drug dealers off the streets would be to legalize, regulate and tax cannabis. In places that decriminalized drugs, and switched methods to prevention and therapy drug use goes down. Without regulation drug dealers continue to contaminate cannabis and sell it to minors. Prohibition gifts criminals this gap in the market. You call this cannabis user a druggie, yet i bet you either drink alcohol, or smoke cigarettes, or use caffeine or take pharmaceutical drugs. Well if you do, your using drugs far more dangerous than cannabis. The only way to get dealers of the streets would be to under cut them, making sure there out of the job. You say ''Good job by the old bill'', the more energy police put in to arresting gardeners and cannabis users, the less focus they put into arresting violent criminals, rapists, murderers and thieves. The police cannot do everything. Prohibition is an economic drain, does nothing to reduce drug use, and creates more danger than the cannabis itself by disallowing any kind of regulation. From an economic perspective, prohibition protects the money drug cartels make.

Absolutely right Focusonpeace. It is a dreadful waste of police time enforcing this idiotic law while paedophiles, robbers, bankers and muggers get away with whatever they want.

Babs Stanley wrote:
Absolutely right Focusonpeace. It is a dreadful waste of police time enforcing this idiotic law while paedophiles, robbers, bankers and muggers get away with whatever they want.

Prohibition is more expensive than prevention and therapy, not just more costly, its totally ineffective. Drug use is going up and up, more grow ops are being discovered and jailing dealers and users does nothing. One gets sent down, another takes his place. I think prison space should be left vacant for violent criminals or crimes with victims.

In fact growing for personal use its totally victimless, yet most narrow minded believe that deserves jail.

The police admit they would rather go after a few teens smoking weed in a park, than someone drunk, loud, aggressive and violent.

So as 'stoners' are tackled to the concrete by 'brave' policemen, real crimes are being left unsolved. If anything why don't the police go after the Dealers who make millions, instead of foot soldiers, small time gardeners and non problematic cannabis users?

Its common knowledge, arresting cannabis users is their bread and butter.

If cannabis is so harmful, why dont the police kick down the door at GW pharma where they will find thousands of highgrade cannabis plants. its not about trying to protect us at all, its not nothing to do with evidence, science, expert opinion or our health and safety. Shame on anyone who supports this unjust scam that is prohibition. Supporting prohibition is indirectly supporting the protection of drug dealers income and the protection of alcohol and tobacco companies.

Good news I am pleased That they found
The plants as this stuff needs removing from the streets how ever normally the cps will say no evidence like i saw on tv

This kind of crop is very strong and bad for you

Some interesting points have been raised. And I agree with some of them. I would actually like to see a government with the balls to experiment with effects of legalising some drugs. It would be interesting to see how it would benefit our communities (ie a reduction in crime etc).
But the point I would make is that cannabis is currently illegal. We dont get to pick and choose the laws we obey. Paedophiles think the Protection of Children Act is a sham, burglars think the Theft Act is a waste of time etc. So I think the police have done their job of enforcing the law.
And Focusonpeace - quite clearly the word druggie is commonly used to refer to people who take illegal drugs and not someone who drinks coffee and Stella Artois so I think your argument fell a little short on that one.

TheSeer wrote:
Some interesting points have been raised. And I agree with some of them. I would actually like to see a government with the balls to experiment with effects of legalising some drugs. It would be interesting to see how it would benefit our communities (ie a reduction in crime etc).
But the point I would make is that cannabis is currently illegal. We dont get to pick and choose the laws we obey. Paedophiles think the Protection of Children Act is a sham, burglars think the Theft Act is a waste of time etc. So I think the police have done their job of enforcing the law.
And Focusonpeace - quite clearly the word druggie is commonly used to refer to people who take illegal drugs and not someone who drinks coffee and Stella Artois so I think your argument fell a little short on that one.

Well legal druggie then lol. I dont think you can make an argument about Paedophiles you cant compare that to someone using cannabis. I know there both crimes but thats where the similarities end. Using cannabis is victimless, paedophilia is far from victimless and ruins the lives of children and their families. so I think your argument fell a little short on that one. One is a sub human disgusting crime, one is someone using a plant known to be safer than alcohol and tobacco. Yes its against the law, but its an unjust law which does nothing to reduce the drug use itself. The law isnt always there to protect us. Remember segregation?

soulsearcher wrote:
Good news I am pleased That they found
The plants as this stuff needs removing from the streets how ever normally the cps will say no evidence like i saw on tv

This kind of crop is very strong and bad for you

Is that why our government granted a licence to a company called GW pharma to grow thousands of cannabis plants? Because its bad for you? Or because it has a wide range of medicinal benefits? Its not cannabis 'based' medicine, its pure cannabis!

So even though our government say 'No medicinal value in cannabis' They allow GW pharma to sell it expensively as medicine. They grow the same 'Skunk' the 'yoofs' smoke today, the only difference is they extract the oils from it and make tinctures. Yes, it does get you high, it would at 51% THC(Stronger than any 'Skunk') But they describe it as 'euphoric mood'. Weird how on the side of the Sativex tincture, it doesn't say anything about mental illness in the list of side effects...You would think such a 'dangerous' plant would have a BIG WARNING on the side. If you want the stuff removed from society your going to face difficulties because not only have humans been using cannabis for over 10,000 years, but now its being grown LEGALLY in Kent.

Usual garbage response from 'State Police Boy'

Drugs whether legal or illegal are the scourge of mankind, pharmaceutical companies as well as dealers make a fortune.
With regard to illegal drugs, the cliche about "drug dealers ruining llives" is wearing thin, its surely supply and demand, if individuals got a grip on themselves, drug dealing would not exist. Its the people who take it creating the problem, its like saying a knife company is responsible for all the stabbings that occur.

If cannabis is not so dangerous why do defence lawyers always use an excuse of being under the influence of drink and cannabis when the defendant has committed an offence?

I've never heard so much bull on here..

what grown-up, informed person would call for the legalisation of a drug whose users so often end up suffering from incurable mental illness?

The busy, well-funded pro-cannabis lobby will no doubt say that the connection has yet to be definitively proved.

The fact so many cannabis users end up tragically mentally ill, or that mental illness has increased since cannabis use became widespread, is not enough for them.

The tobacco lobby used to spread the same complacent story about cigarettes and lung cancer – in fact, they did so for about 30 wasted years, during which many thousands of people were fooled into thinking that smoking was safe.

By the time they found that it wasn’t, they were already dying in pain in the cancer ward, or ravaged by heart disease and emphysema.

I am disgusted by the stupid people who make excuses for this nasty poison without grasping that its ready availability has been disastrous for the poor and weak. I might add that its unpredictable effects on the brain mean it is also a grave danger, and its possession and use plainly ought to be discouraged by severe penalties, rigorously enforced.

tomtopper wrote:
I've never heard so much bull on here..

what grown-up, informed person would call for the legalisation of a drug whose users so often end up suffering from incurable mental illness?

The busy, well-funded pro-cannabis lobby will no doubt say that the connection has yet to be definitively proved.

The fact so many cannabis users end up tragically mentally ill, or that mental illness has increased since cannabis use became widespread, is not enough for them.

The tobacco lobby used to spread the same complacent story about cigarettes and lung cancer – in fact, they did so for about 30 wasted years, during which many thousands of people were fooled into thinking that smoking was safe.

By the time they found that it wasn’t, they were already dying in pain in the cancer ward, or ravaged by heart disease and emphysema.

I am disgusted by the stupid people who make excuses for this nasty poison without grasping that its ready availability has been disastrous for the poor and weak. I might add that its unpredictable effects on the brain mean it is also a grave danger, and its possession and use plainly ought to be discouraged by severe penalties, rigorously enforced.

I've never seen so much "bull" in a single comment.

"...drug whose users so often end up suffering from incurable mental illness?"

"The fact so many cannabis users end up tragically mentally ill, or that mental illness has increased since cannabis use became widespread, is not enough for them."

Absolute twaddle. The facts rather than the propaganda, based on NHS and NTA data, are that any individual in Britain is six times more likely to experience mental health problems associated with alcohol use than with cannabis.

According to Hickman et al, 2009. A review of all published research so, by definition­, not cherry picked. It shows that the risk of lifetime cannabis use correlatin­g with a single diagnosis of psychosis is at worst 0.013% and probably less than 0.003%.

According to Frisher et al 2009. The ACMD commissioned a study by Keele University into the trends in schizophrenia specifically to test the claims in the media of a link between it and cannabis. It looked at almost 600,000 patients and concluded that “..the incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia and psychoses were either stable or declining” despite alleged increased use of allegedly more potent cannabis.

"The busy, well-funded pro-cannabis lobby..."

More rubbish. What eviodence do you have for this nonsensical assertion? Those working in cannabis law reform have no money at all.

Your comment is foolish, ignorant and full of downright lies. What is your real agenda?

Edmondsley wrote:
If cannabis is not so dangerous why do defence lawyers always use an excuse of being under the influence of drink and cannabis when the defendant has committed an offence?

The myth of cannabis addiction and harm is how the “drug support” industry make most of its money.

Little Johnny gets busted with a bit of weed and his solicitor advances his “addiction” in mitigation. Consequently the court builds up a false statistical base which appears to “prove” there is a problem with cannabis addiction and gifts public money to drug support charlatans to “treat” the “problem”. This self-perpetuating and corrupt cycle generates oodles of cash for the drug support business and keeps police, courts and drug workers all reinforcing each other's deception.

So Babs are you saying that lawyers are telling lies to the court?Perhaps some lawyers may like to respond to this.

Absolute recklessness, rather blasé statements that several posters are coming out with.
You are protesting too much. Perhaps, are they users of this drug? I suppose, given your attitude, you would be absolutely fine if your children were users?, (but hey, that’s ok because it harmless).

It is not the safest medicine and it does have side effects, the government, has not given GW pharmaceuticals an illegal monopoly neither, they are involved in research, which will be valuable for the future.
Thus the possible use in some medical conditions, comprehensive clinical trials are been carried out under strict regulations.

“Science proves how much safer it is than tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines and all other recreational drugs”.

You really do not have a clue, do some research, instead of trying to justify using it…

“In fact growing for personal use its totally victimless” Is it really???

“I would actually like to see a government with the balls to experiment with effects of legalising some drugs. It would be interesting to see how it would benefit our communities (ie a reduction in crime etc)”.

You really are all living in a fantasy world, and how will this reduce crime?

Hey…. why not legalise all illegal drugs then the crime rate would really fall, that really would be a aide to the ‘focus on peace’ as everyone would be stoned and out of this world…..
Yeah…peace man…

Quote:
tomtopper says...
8:57pm Tue 14 Aug 12
I've never heard so much bull on here..

what grown-up, informed person would call for the legalisation of a drug whose users so often end up suffering from incurable mental illness?

The busy, well-funded pro-cannabis lobby will no doubt say that the connection has yet to be definitively proved.

The fact so many cannabis users end up tragically mentally ill, or that mental illness has increased since cannabis use became widespread, is not enough for them.

The tobacco lobby used to spread the same complacent story about cigarettes and lung cancer – in fact, they did so for about 30 wasted years, during which many thousands of people were fooled into thinking that smoking was safe.
By the time they found that it wasn’t, they were already dying in pain in the cancer ward, or ravaged by heart disease and emphysema.

I am disgusted by the stupid people who make excuses for this nasty poison without grasping that its ready availability has been disastrous for the poor and weak. I might add that its unpredictable effects on the brain mean it is also a grave danger, and its possession and use plainly ought to be discouraged by severe penalties, rigorously enforced.

Well, tomtopper not bad, well said, though don’t use ‘stupid’ more dim witted and uniformed, and I deeply suspect wannabe users or users as their defence for the legalisation of it, is a little over the top.

Why use it at all???
What makes those weaklings use it???

Standing by…for a major attack of rants…

Dean M wrote:
And how much taxpayers money has this police operation cost? For a few cannabis plants?
.
I'd rather police officers were deployed to find Tia's body more quickly, rather than p1ssing about harassing people over a few cannabis plants.

It’s obvious you don't live next to a drug dealer well i do and it’s like a McDonald's drive through.

It’s obvious some people don't live next to a drug dealer well i do and it’s like a McDonald's drive through.

As for the 2 arrests, it was a planned executed stop based on a tip, and information gain from previous arrests, which were part of an organised operation.
And to add an insult to law abiding citizens, these two are users and suppliers, and are also on benefits, one of them receiving disability for…. make a wild guess….Yep... mental health issues.
I Wonder, how many of you guessed correctly???

Babs Stanley wrote:

tomtopper wrote:
I've never heard so much bull on here..

what grown-up, informed person would call for the legalisation of a drug whose users so often end up suffering from incurable mental illness?

The busy, well-funded pro-cannabis lobby will no doubt say that the connection has yet to be definitively proved.

The fact so many cannabis users end up tragically mentally ill, or that mental illness has increased since cannabis use became widespread, is not enough for them.

The tobacco lobby used to spread the same complacent story about cigarettes and lung cancer – in fact, they did so for about 30 wasted years, during which many thousands of people were fooled into thinking that smoking was safe.

By the time they found that it wasn’t, they were already dying in pain in the cancer ward, or ravaged by heart disease and emphysema.

I am disgusted by the stupid people who make excuses for this nasty poison without grasping that its ready availability has been disastrous for the poor and weak. I might add that its unpredictable effects on the brain mean it is also a grave danger, and its possession and use plainly ought to be discouraged by severe penalties, rigorously enforced.

I've never seen so much "bull" in a single comment.

"...drug whose users so often end up suffering from incurable mental illness?"

"The fact so many cannabis users end up tragically mentally ill, or that mental illness has increased since cannabis use became widespread, is not enough for them."

Absolute twaddle. The facts rather than the propaganda, based on NHS and NTA data, are that any individual in Britain is six times more likely to experience mental health problems associated with alcohol use than with cannabis.

According to Hickman et al, 2009. A review of all published research so, by definition­, not cherry picked. It shows that the risk of lifetime cannabis use correlatin­g with a single diagnosis of psychosis is at worst 0.013% and probably less than 0.003%.

According to Frisher et al 2009. The ACMD commissioned a study by Keele University into the trends in schizophrenia specifically to test the claims in the media of a link between it and cannabis. It looked at almost 600,000 patients and concluded that “..the incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia and psychoses were either stable or declining” despite alleged increased use of allegedly more potent cannabis.

"The busy, well-funded pro-cannabis lobby..."

More rubbish. What eviodence do you have for this nonsensical assertion? Those working in cannabis law reform have no money at all.

Your comment is foolish, ignorant and full of downright lies. What is your real agenda?

The question is, what is your real agenda?

You sound like the pro cigarette lobby did about 40 years ago, shouting down those who were concerned by the effects of smoking...

Just because one poison is legal (and would never be made legal if discovered today) dosen't justify another, worse poison, to be legalised.

Smoking cannabis more than doubles your risk of psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia.

Immense damage can be done to the brain by smoking the high strength cannabis available today, especially so if the brain is not fully formed.

if any scientific evidence shows a possibility that cannabis can cause any kind of mental illness, which there does, why should anyone ignore that?

Susan Greenfield, professor of pharmacology at Oxford University, has studied the effect of cannabis on the brain. To quote:

"Three or four cannabis cigarettes a day are equivalent to 20 or more tobacco cigarettes, regarding damage to the lining of the bronchus, while the concentration of carcinogens in cannabis smoke is actually higher than in cigarettes," she adds.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, has commented on the surge in mental health hospital admissions due to cannabis.

She also states that "It can leave users with permanent damage to their ability to reason" Judging by your ridiculous and selfish post, I can quite believe that..

.