The Green party's drug spokesman, Shane Collins, today called for creation of cannabis cafes in the UK after he was released from prison on appeal after marijuana plants were found in his house.
________
He said: "We need legal and regulated cannabis cafes to separate cannabis supply from crack and smack, which are the real problem drugs in society."
"If the government won't allow cannabis cafe, the only alternatives are street purchase or home cultivation, neither of which is ideal."
And he hit out at the waste of resources involved in his prosecution, telling reporters: "I'm relieved that the crown court has overruled a fairly extreme magistrates' court, but I'm frustrated that 19 small plants have caused 6 court appearances, 5 days in prison and at least 8 police officers' time, as well as a large waste of taxpayers' money."
Jenny Jones, the Green party's deputy mayor of London, said: "This is ludicrous when we're on the point of changing the law. It's even worse when the UK has its highest prison population ever. The criminal justice system is under huge pressure, yet we're being heavy-handed on victimless crime."
Guardian UK August 4 2003
