CANNABIS SHOP USED CHARITY CASH

A ROW broke out today as it emerged that a city shop selling cannabis seeds
and equipment was set up with funding from the Prince's Trust.

Grow Systems, in Lincoln Road, New England, Peterborough, is part of a
chain which originally received money from the charity set up by the Prince
of Wales.

At the store, customers can buy UKP 230 "starter kits", which include
cannabis seeds, lamp heaters and tanks to grow the plants in.

And it's all perfectly legal.

Possession of cannabis only becomes illegal once the seeds have been grown
into plants.

The case highlights how vague and confusing the law is when it comes to
cannabis.

Currently, possession of the Class B drug can mean a maximum five years in
prison, while dealers can face 14 years.

However, Home Secretary David Blunkett has indicated that it will be
down-graded to a Class C drug later this year, meaning a prison sentence
for possession is unlikely.

Today, the Prince's Trust refused to reveal how much money it had given
Grow Systems.

A spokesman added: "When we granted a loan to Grow Systems, it was
marketing equipment for the growth of salad vegetables and fruit.

"The Prince's Trust does not support the use of illegal substances in any
circumstances, and does not provide start-up funding to businesses that
promote such activity."

The shop in Peterborough is the third to be opened by the company, after
others in Cambridge and Norwich.

Today, manager Jim Norton (28), from Ramsey, who admits to being a "casual
user" of the drug, said: "We don't get any problems from the police.

"When officers do come in they just take a look around, smile, and walk out."

Inspector Mark Birchall, of Peterborough police, said: "We take a very dim
view of the sale of these items.

"Some people are confused about cannabis laws, but it is illegal to
cultivate plants, even if they are for your own use."

Cllr Charles Swift, who represents New England, said: "Residents will be
wondering what the world is coming to when a place like this can open and
trade freely."

"Smoking cannabis is illegal and we cannot condone a shop like this on our
doorsteps."

Think-Tank's New Report

THE row about the opening of Grow Systems has broken out in the same week
that a think-tank urged the Government to encourage drug users to grown
their own cannabis.

A report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said this would put a halt to
the dealers.

Professor Mike Hough, author of the report, said: "As their profits from
cannabis sales diminished, criminal entrepreneurs could be forced to
abandon the cannabis market altogether."

Jim Norton, manager of the Grow Systems shop, said: "I agree with those
comments. The whole industry needs to be taken out of the hands of the
criminals."