FURY OVER CANNABIS SEED SALE

Politician Calls Council 'Hypocritical' Following Teenager's
Purchase

A Senior politician has demanded action from Colchester Borough
Council after claiming a 13-year-old was able to buy cannabis seeds
from a local authority-licensed market stall.

Tim Young, the Labour group leader on the council, carried out the
test to see how easy it was for a youngster to obtain the seeds -
which are legal for anyone to buy but against the law if cultivated.

He claimed the teenager bought five seeds for UKP 10 from the Culture
Stir stall, based in the town's Trinity Square.

Colchester Borough Council is a member of the Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnership, which is opposed to drug use and gives support
to the North East Essex Drugs Advisory Service.

Culture Stir describes itself as stocking "Bizarre Head Supplies" and
is decorated with cannabis leaf motifs and stocks a range of products,
all within the law.

Mr Young has branded the council "hypocritical" for allowing the stall
to trade and has demanded it quickly addressed the issue.

"I have informed Colchester police and the councillors and would hope
they are as concerned about it as I am," he said.

Mr Young also called for Culture Stir's licence to he reviewed by
officers before it was renewed again.

Culture Stir stall holder David Beard said he checked the identity of
everyone who tried to buy goods from the stall and who did not appear
to be 16, even though he was not required to do so by law. He added:
"The cannabis seeds are not illegal to sell, but we now keep them
under the counter. if we did sell things to young people, it's not
intentional~ but was not illegal. "I was expecting this from Mr
Young, but I won't keep responding to him. I am going to get a letter
from the Home Office saying I have nothing illegal."

Colchester police said they had investigated the stall and were happy
it was not breaking the law.

Chief superintendent Dave Murthwaite, of Colchester police,
added:

"We have looked into it. The issue was raised and we investigated and
were happy at the time that there were no offences being committed and
that is what we have got to abide by".