POLICE DRUGS CHIEF HITS OUT AT 'MORALLY IRRESPONSIBLE' CANNABIS HOMEGROWERS

ONE OF Scotland's most senior police officers has warned that cannabis
remains a dangerous drug, despite its reclassification, and those who
buy it are funding serious criminal activity such as human
trafficking.

The stark message from Detective Superintendent Gillian Wood, the
Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency's (SDEA) national drugs
co-ordinator, comes ahead of a major conference on cannabis this
spring being organised by police chiefs.

Wood's warning echoes the sentiments of Met boss Sir Ian Blair, who
last summer warned middle class cocaine users that they are funding
murder squads in Colombia.

Wood said yesterday: "Big time dealers are funding criminality from
it, from other drugs to people to DVDs. Anyone buying cannabis is
contributing to that - they are contributing to a criminal network."

"There is probably a message we should get out there that cannabis is
not a victimless commodity. As well as damaging the health of the
individual user, cannabis damages the health of others. I don't think
that awareness is out there."

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) is
dedicating a two-day conference in March to the issue of cannabis in
Scotland. Wood said police were concerned that there is a
misconception that cannabis is not harmful following its
reclassification.

"It would appear that people are confused about classification and an
unintended message seems to have seeped through that cannabis isn't
harmful since cannabis was reclassified as a grade-C drug," she said.
"However, the Acpos view, and our view, is that this drug should be
actively policed, and we are certainly doing that."

Although the SDEA was created to tackle serious and organised crime,
Wood also warned police will be tough on households found to be
cultivating cannabis. She said: "Homegrowing has become more of an
issue, it is not something we are seeing decline. It is not a harmless
hobby by any means - it has a serious effect on the community and on
people round about them."

Research suggests that between 25% and 66% of cannabis used in the UK
is grown in the UK, and police in Scotland last year recorded nearly
300 crimes of cultivation of drugs, up from 184 in 1998.

Wood claimed the vast majority of growers in Scotland are making a
profit from cultivating the drug.

"I don't recognise that homegrowing is being carried out by people who
only want a supply for themselves. In my experience people who are
homegrowing cannabis are doing it for profit - that has a significant
impact on their family, their community. It is morally irresponsible
on their family and their community to engage in homegrowing.

"I would urge the public if they know someone who is engaging in
homegrowing to contact the police as the practice is not a hippy
throwback. It has serious repercussions."

Drugs experts said yesterday there was no evidence that cannabis use
has increased since it was reclassified.

Harry Shapiro, of the charity Drugscope, said while cannabis use "has
not skyrocketed because of reclassification" it remains "one of the
most popular drugs in the UK, especially with young people".

However, Shapiro agreed with Wood that there are risks with using
cannabis.

"While we are not saying everyone who grows or uses cannabis is going
to hell in a handbasket, there is a clear concern about young people
taking cannabis who perhaps don't have a mental health problem at the
moment but whose lives are chaotic and disrupted and cannabis doesn't
help," he said.