Workmates are spared jail over Burslem cannabis farm
TWO builders who set up a cannabis farm to feed their own habits have avoided jail.
Friends and workmates Stacey Greenwell and Gavin Rogers received suspended sentences at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday after pleading to producing a class B drug.
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Police recovered 25 cannabis plants from an address in Moorland Road, Burslem, on January 29 this year, after being alerted by Eon officials.
While 33-year-old Greenwell and 34-year-old Rogers never intended the sell the cannabis, the court heard their farm could have produced 1kg of the drug, with a street value of around £5,000.
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Nicky Bell, mitigating, told the court that both defendants were long-standing users of cannabis who made a "reckless" decision to produce the drug themselves.
She said: "This case has had a distressing effect on their family lives and their working lives.
"The defendants worked together in the building trade, and socialised together as well.
"They made the decision to start growing cannabis for their own use. They were long-standing users of cannabis.
"They have never shied away from the reckless decision they made."
Ms Bell said Greenwell, of Ironstone Walk, Burslem, and Rogers, of Barks Drive, Norton, had never previously appeared before the courts.
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones sentenced the pair to four months, suspended for 18 months.
He told the defendants that they had come close to receiving an immediate prison sentence.
Judge Trevor-Jones said: "You are long-standing friends who have generally been positively engaged together in legitimate business.
"This is your first conviction before the court, and I hope it will be your last appearance before the court.
"Producing cannabis like this would normally result in a custodial sentence.
"If there was any suspicion that this cannabis would be sold to someone else, you would be going to prison. But I accept it was for your own personal use.
"Although these were immature plants that were seized, it was a sophisticated set-up in terms of the hydroponics equipment that you used." Following a proceeds of crime hearing, both defendants were ordered to repay £4,915 each, or face two months imprisonment.
They were also told to pay £600 prosecution costs.
Comments
by camband
Monday, October 01 2012, 1:59PM
“To broaden this out a little -and help see the wood for the trees -especially re 'people growing their own' -to avoid having to deal with criminals -who also sell harder drugs, and will be pushing them too -sometimes persuasively so -(gullible young cannabis smokers) -if the 'Law' see the plant as what it is, and for what it is, in the wider context -medicinal etc etc -Why not treat it as is treated the magic mushroom?
It is perfectly legal to go onto common land, pick a magic mushroom and consume it. One could even consume it whilst at the Police Station enquiring where Pool Dole is? -and not be arrested.
But, on the other hand, if you were to pick that mushroom and then break it down into powder form and attempt to sell it -that is illegal.”
by warren-lloyd
Sunday, September 30 2012, 7:00AM
“Because I got high, because I got high, because I got high, high, high.”
by SourAlienOG
Saturday, September 29 2012, 7:17PM
“So i guess its another case of people growing their own, avoiding buying from criminals, avoiding contaminated or poorly grown cannabis, avoiding funding the black market. So they deprive the criminal underworld of their money, yet they get punished for it. I understand its the law, and we all must blindly obey, but so was segregation so it seems sometimes the law isnt always there to protect us. But i guess if every cannabis user was able to grow their own, it may pose a threat to GW pharma who grow and sell the worlds most expensive cannabis, 10 times more expensive than street weed, yet its not 10 times more medicinal. Cannabis being against the law has nothing to do with harm reduction, scientific evidence, expert advice or to see dealers put out of business long term. Its all about money, greed, vested interest and personal prejudices. That is what our drugs policy is based on.”
by PoetPeter
Saturday, September 29 2012, 5:53PM
“Why don't we try taking a completely new approach to cannabis? In Britain, 30% of us use cannabis in our lifetime, three million people use it at least once per month and we consume more than three tonnes every day. The idea that we can prevent people using it is nonsense.
We waste billions every year on police, court and prison resources when a large proportion of society uses cannabis without any problem at all. In fact, the only real problem with cannabis is that it's illegal.
The risks to health are very small - much, much less than alcohol or tobacco. Professor Terrie Moffitt of the Institute of Psychiatry said recently that cannabis is "safe for over 18s". If we took responsibility and introduced a tax and regulate system we could protect children far more effectively than we do at present.
We could have a properly regulated supply chain with no criminals involved, no theft of electricity, no human trafficking, no destruction of property and disruption of neighbourhoods. Then there would be some control over this huge market. There would be thousands of new jobs, sales would be from licensed outlets to adults only with guaranteed quality and safety. Then our police could start going after some real wrongdoing instead of trying to fight a crime that exists only because of a misguided government policy.
Also, very importantly, science now proves that cannabis is one of the safest and most effective medicines for a wide range of conditions. While the government promotes the lie that "there is no medicinal value in cannabis", it has granted an unlawful monopoly to GW Pharmaceuticals to grow 20 tonnes a year for, you guessed it, medicine!
Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR) published independent research last year that shows a cannabis tax and regulate policy would provide a boost to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion pa as well as reducing all health and social harms.
The only thing that keeps the present absurd status quo in place is weak politicians corrupted by Big Booze and the GW Pharma monopoly.”
by Robnoxious
Saturday, September 29 2012, 12:00PM
“So come on then Mrs Joy Garner now that you have put yourself up as Judge. Jury and Hangman or to be politically correct Hangperson, What is your view on this case, seeing as you are putting yourself up for election. Perhaps you could take the Judge around the city to see the effect drug abuse is having on the communities, either it be taking or dealing it. I think the public would like to hear, was the Judge right with this verdict or not. We want to know who to vote and what they standing for.We will take it the non response to this being the Judge being right in his verdict, and the message this is sending out to others that are in the drug trade Doing these things from within your council properties you rent out. I won't be holding my breath to long. Political gain springs to mind ?”