DRUGS DEBATE

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
cultiv- ating cannabis with an estimated value of UKP1,000. He was
released witout 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."