Scratch and sniff cards to help in cannabis farms crackdown (From York Press)
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Scratch and sniff cards to help in cannabis farms crackdown
8:04am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News
By Kate Liptrot, Crime Reporter
A scratch and sniff card that has been produced and distributed by the Crimestoppers charity
“SCRATCH and sniff “ cards which replicate the smell of growing cannabis are being distributed by the charity Crimestoppers.
The Crimestoppers campaign aims to teach people to recognise the specific smell of growing cannabis in a bid to address the 15 per cent increase in cannabis farms in the UK in 2011/12.
The cards are being distributed by police and Crimestoppers across Yorkshire, including York, North and East Yorkshire.
Lord Ashcroft, founder and chairman of Crimestoppers, said: “Cannabis farms grow more than just drugs.
“Those who are cultivating cannabis tend to be involved in other areas of crime and are often involved in related gang crime and other violent crimes involving firearms.
“These individuals use violence and intimidation to carry out these crimes and endanger the lives of those around them. We want to help put an end to this and the funding that cultivation provides to serious organised crimes like human trafficking and gun crime.”
In Humberside, nearly 300 cannabis farms were discovered by police in the two years from 2010 to 2012.
Areas particularly targeted by the new campaign are West Yorkshire, where 1,800 cannabis farms were found in 2010 to 12, and South Yorkshire, where 1,600 farms were found in the same period.
Over the last two years, police forces have seized more than one million cannabis plants, with an estimated value of more than £200 million.
Often, those behind cannabis farms will illegally hook their factories and properties up to power sources. Energy theft relating to cannabis farming also is estimated to amount to £400 million a year, a spokesman for Crimestoppers said. A recent report has found that commercial or industrial properties are being used less for cannabis cultivation and there has been a significant move by criminals towards residential dwellings.
Andy Bliss, of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: “We know that many people don’t realise that the empty, rundown house or flat on their street with people coming and going late at night may actually be a commercial cannabis farm.”
Anyone who wants to report a crime anonymously can phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Comments(44)
Jazzper
says...
8:22am Tue 19 Mar 13
windowlicker
says...
8:44am Tue 19 Mar 13
Ah but it's illegal I hear you say, ok fair enough but explain to me how the grow shops survive! Buisnesses who supply grow equipment, grow feeds, everything you need to grow as many plants as you've room for, seeds aplenty again bought over here...
Decriminalise pot, have the growers register their growroom as then you'll weed out the commercial growers from the folk who simply want to avoid the black market! Two ripe plants is enough stash for anyone!
lezyork1966
says...
8:44am Tue 19 Mar 13
I have never understood it not being legalised, not all drugs are dangerous, hell we drink coffee for no other reason than the caffeine.
THC in cannabis IS a universal cure all that fixes so many common ailments it would cost the drugs industry millions in lost profits.
There's very interesting work and some wild claims about its links to cancer regression.
watch/find the film online 'run from the cure'
the reported story above is mostly propaganda, spending last 30 yrs living on a council estate I have seen people using every drug imaginable, the pot smokers tend to live much more healthy lives than the alcoholics!
there seems to be no turf war with pot, its been scientifically proved NOT to be a gateway drug, it does not cause human trafficking, its simply political and profit protection.
PS I'm not a pot head! (dont like the smell of it and I'm a non smoker) but I know many who use and I see none of the usual BS happening to them etc, ones smoked for 20+years and he's more normal than most i know who dont!
Woody G Mellor
says...
8:46am Tue 19 Mar 13
JHardacre wrote:Totally agree with you JHardacre. Jazz per is obviously one of the ignorant on this subject.
Jazzper wrote:That's because you're a t**t!
Legalise it...problem solved! no worse than home brewing alcohol, IMHO.
Podlet
says...
8:46am Tue 19 Mar 13
Now is it just me, or is there a certain irony here?
Woody G Mellor
says...
8:49am Tue 19 Mar 13
Woody G Mellor wrote:SORRY! I got the names the wrong way around! I'm with Jazzper on this. Doh!
JHardacre wrote:Totally agree with you JHardacre. Jazz per is obviously one of the ignorant on this subject.
Jazzper wrote:That's because you're a t**t!
Legalise it...problem solved! no worse than home brewing alcohol, IMHO.
Woody G Mellor
says...
8:51am Tue 19 Mar 13
Woody G Mellor wrote:Too many Jazz Woodbines this morning! ;0)
Woody G Mellor wrote:SORRY! I got the names the wrong way around! I'm with Jazzper on this. Doh!
JHardacre wrote:Totally agree with you JHardacre. Jazz per is obviously one of the ignorant on this subject.
Jazzper wrote:That's because you're a t**t!
Legalise it...problem solved! no worse than home brewing alcohol, IMHO.
Podlet
says...
8:51am Tue 19 Mar 13
Woody G Mellor wrote:One too many spliffs this morning already, hey Woody?
Woody G Mellor wrote:SORRY! I got the names the wrong way around! I'm with Jazzper on this. Doh!
JHardacre wrote:Totally agree with you JHardacre. Jazz per is obviously one of the ignorant on this subject.
Jazzper wrote:That's because you're a t**t!
Legalise it...problem solved! no worse than home brewing alcohol, IMHO.
CHISSY1
says...
8:55am Tue 19 Mar 13
Peterwalker
says...
9:02am Tue 19 Mar 13
Woody G Mellor
says...
9:03am Tue 19 Mar 13
CHISSY1 wrote:Yep. You just stay off the paracetamol, alcohol, asprin, coffee, tea. etc etc etc mate. Really know your stuff you don't you. Lol.
"Any sort of drug ruins lives,any one who starts taking them for the fun of it are a total waste of space and i am talking from experience".
dodgydavereturns
says...
9:04am Tue 19 Mar 13
Podlet
says...
9:22am Tue 19 Mar 13
CHISSY1 wrote:What ones are you on, then?
"Any sort of drug ruins lives,any one who starts taking them for the fun of it are a total waste of space and i am talking from experience".
I said
says...
9:22am Tue 19 Mar 13
I've smoked it every day for thirty years, it's never bothered me. Haha. As bob would say, excuse me while I light my spiff.
gazzar
says...
9:27am Tue 19 Mar 13
CHISSY1
says...
9:30am Tue 19 Mar 13
I said wrote:"To all you ignorant people who think it is funny.Speak to my partner who has a son who cost his mother thousands and lots of sleepless nights through him taking drugs and he started for fun and like it always does,gets out of hand".
Its meant to be addictive.
I've smoked it every day for thirty years, it's never bothered me. Haha. As bob would say, excuse me while I light my spiff.
I said
says...
9:37am Tue 19 Mar 13
Jazzper
says...
9:38am Tue 19 Mar 13
CHISSY1 wrote:That's because of the 'excitement' as a adolescent, of trying something that's illegal, same as under age smoking....oh and under age drinking!
I said wrote:"To all you ignorant people who think it is funny.Speak to my partner who has a son who cost his mother thousands and lots of sleepless nights through him taking drugs and he started for fun and like it always does,gets out of hand".
Its meant to be addictive.
I've smoked it every day for thirty years, it's never bothered me. Haha. As bob would say, excuse me while I light my spiff.
capt spaulding
says...
9:45am Tue 19 Mar 13
CHISSY1 wrote:Waste of space ?? Sorry Chissy couldnt resist that, you walked into it.
"Any sort of drug ruins lives,any one who starts taking them for the fun of it are a total waste of space and i am talking from experience".
powerwatt
says...
9:48am Tue 19 Mar 13
CHISSY1 wrote:Like it always does?
I said wrote:"To all you ignorant people who think it is funny.Speak to my partner who has a son who cost his mother thousands and lots of sleepless nights through him taking drugs and he started for fun and like it always does,gets out of hand".
Its meant to be addictive.
I've smoked it every day for thirty years, it's never bothered me. Haha. As bob would say, excuse me while I light my spiff.
If you would like to throw in some anecdotal evidence that is fine, but I much prefer facts.
The line about it funding terrorism is not quite true when it comes down to cannabis. The line that it leads to harder drugs is a myth and there has not been a single research paper that says this.
I would also do some research into why it was made illegal and by who.
Then finally you can listen to the experts opinion of those who give drugs advice to the government with the majority having been removed from their post if they have said that there is nothing medically wrong with taking cannabis.
Podlet
says...
9:49am Tue 19 Mar 13
capt spaulding wrote:Sounds like a sign off.
CHISSY1 wrote:Waste of space ?? Sorry Chissy couldnt resist that, you walked into it.
"Any sort of drug ruins lives,any one who starts taking them for the fun of it are a total waste of space and i am talking from experience".
'love and kisses,
Wasted, of outer space."
windowlicker
says...
9:51am Tue 19 Mar 13
CHISSY1 wrote:Was down to his cannabis use? Or did he, whilst buying his dope try something else on offer? Did the experimentation end with an opiuate addiction?
I said wrote: Its meant to be addictive. I've smoked it every day for thirty years, it's never bothered me. Haha. As bob would say, excuse me while I light my spiff."To all you ignorant people who think it is funny.Speak to my partner who has a son who cost his mother thousands and lots of sleepless nights through him taking drugs and he started for fun and like it always does,gets out of hand".
This unfortunatly seems not to be uncommon and is why pot is called a "gateway" drug, one answer is the coffee shop system (as in the Netherlands) and with the resources saved from decriminalising pot being used to clamp down hard on the opiate trade.
CHISSY1
says...
10:44am Tue 19 Mar 13
jadestars
says...
11:21am Tue 19 Mar 13
CHISSY1 wrote:Chrissy in that case your experience is incredibly limited!
"Any sort of drug ruins lives,any one who starts taking them for the fun of it are a total waste of space and i am talking from experience".
Jeff_li
says...
11:44am Tue 19 Mar 13
http://goo.gl/epM45
*FaYmOuS*
says...
11:59am Tue 19 Mar 13
Gun crime? Human trafficking? ahahahahaha that gave me a good laugh at lunch! This is York not Merseyside! What a load of codswallop! So the neighbours growing 1 or 2 dope plants means I should live in fear of being shot or snatched?! Get a grip!
*FaYmOuS*
says...
12:36pm Tue 19 Mar 13
Areas particularly targeted by the new campaign are West Yorkshire, where 1,800 cannabis farms were found in 2010 to 12, and South Yorkshire, where 1,600 farms were found in the same period.
I notice there is no mention of York stats? Probably because its not even 10! So why are they wasting money distributing these in York?
lezyork1966
says...
1:05pm Tue 19 Mar 13
Being a (ex) taxi driver I have seen more drugs buys than many others, its really obvious when they book a taxi from there house to another house and go right back again...,.
As customers some would get very defensive if you said ''did they have what you want'' but it was a conversation opener and some were quite open that they had gone to get ''something'' as they knew they had made it so obvious that it was pointless to deny it.
many a conversation on the effect/costs/FACTS about the stuff taught me things that I would not have learned otherwise
I still see some of my 'old fares' to this day and they are not dead(obviously) or ''lives ruined'' but then again I have seen also many who went on to try 'stronger' drugs who are wrecks now.
I'm sorry but anyone who tells me they that pot is 'great danger' I just laugh at, I'm not saying that its not harmed 'anyone' but that its a very very low percentage of people that have issues directly related to it.
It also is something that crosses social boundaries, some I carried were quite financially secure and some on the minimum wage.
none of them were seemingly bad people or of an aggressive disposition, unlike the scum I used to pick up from the nightclubs...
CHISSY1
says...
1:09pm Tue 19 Mar 13
jadestars wrote:"No it is not."
CHISSY1 wrote:Chrissy in that case your experience is incredibly limited!
"Any sort of drug ruins lives,any one who starts taking them for the fun of it are a total waste of space and i am talking from experience".
Buzz Light-year
says...
1:20pm Tue 19 Mar 13
Only the class clown has piped up a different view and as usual Chissy hasn't backed up any argument with fact and resorts to calling everyone ignorant and fools. Oh the irony.
As with other stories shut down for comment, the propagandists don't want *their* "truths" to be shown for what they are.
When they say "farms" what picture do you see in your mind? Yep, huge fields, massive industrial warehouses. Well for them, a couple of plants is a farm. Helps to perpetuate the myth.
The funny thing is the argument in this story is that buying weed funds criminality. Who is responsible for the sale of weed being in criminal hands? Those who criminalised it.
To redress the balance and to back up what most people have been saying:
As knowledge and experience grows, the truth will out.
Two states in the US have legalised recreational use along with all the medical dispensaries there, Spain, Argentina, Chile and Czech Republic are just a few countries that have relaxed the law on use.
Scientists and celebrities are no longer afraid to put their heads above the parapet and call for legalisation.
Breeders are developing ever better techniques to hone the mix of cannabinoids in their plants to specifically target certain ailments.
There is a current trend for breeding high CBD strains. Cannabis with high CBD isn't as psycho-active as high THC strains, these are better for relaxation and pain relief and are less likely to induce any latent mental illness.
Now if you'll excuse me I've got to go and give my pistols some baby-bio. They just don't seem to be growing at all.
couldn't care less
says...
1:40pm Tue 19 Mar 13
Podlet
says...
1:57pm Tue 19 Mar 13
After all, look at what the HMC takes on tobacco and alcohol and what the various governments have done with it.
kingofyork
says...
3:47pm Tue 19 Mar 13
If you have to lie and exaggerate to further your cause maybe it's not just at all ?
Podlet
says...
4:41pm Tue 19 Mar 13
kingofyork wrote:Beat ya! 20 years since the age of 13, Mensan - top 0.5%, Asian 'god' (Bhudda) - well, we can all be conceited but we can't all be perfect! Giving up speed was the worse thing I ever did for my diet.
I used weed daily for 16 years (from age 14), i have an IQ of 129 and i'm built like a greek god (4 years careful diet and hard work).
If you have to lie and exaggerate to further your cause maybe it's not just at all ?
Grown up - nah!
Why lie and exaggerate when people won't believe the truth?
kingofyork
says...
5:56pm Tue 19 Mar 13
I had a bit of trouble when i was younger but i was the only one of the group and i'm smart enough to know the problem was me.
Owen Richards
says...
7:38am Wed 20 Mar 13
Stewart
says...
8:39am Wed 20 Mar 13
Woody G Mellor
says...
9:54am Wed 20 Mar 13
And that message, whether they choose to ignore it or not is = FAIL!
Podlet
says...
1:09pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Tim Cronin
says...
4:22pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Ronald Crumble
says...
11:12pm Wed 20 Mar 13
I said wrote:its not addictive..the nicotine is the addictive part
Its meant to be addictive.
I've smoked it every day for thirty years, it's never bothered me. Haha. As bob would say, excuse me while I light my spiff.
Ronald Crumble
says...
11:14pm Wed 20 Mar 13
CHISSY1 wrote:your partners son hasn't either
"You fools do not have a clue".
Ronald Crumble
says...
11:16pm Wed 20 Mar 13
kingofyork wrote:your head must be big also??
I used weed daily for 16 years (from age 14), i have an IQ of 129 and i'm built like a greek god (4 years careful diet and hard work).
If you have to lie and exaggerate to further your cause maybe it's not just at all ?
Buzz Light-year says...
8:21am Tue 19 Mar 13
Those dudes are growing guns in their plant pots. Back to Askham Bryan for them, they should know better than that.
What you mean to say is "Those who are cultivating cannabis ON A LARGE INDUSTRIAL SCALE"
Remember kids - next time you buy an eighth off a mate you are funding international terrorism, human trafficking, phone-hacking and, oh I dunno.. genocide, yeah genocide sounds good, let's put that in the brochure.