If a single plant weights a couple of kilo's, the majority of that is compost, roots, stems and leaves, none of which have any financial worth and as such, are disposed of once the plants are harvested. The charges relate to the production of a class C drug after-all, and yet 85% of the plant has no psychoactive effect.

"There's no rhyme or reason. Sentencing seems to be set by whatever mood the presiding judge is in, leaving the way open for inconsistencies and abuse."

52 Plants = Jail Sentence
In Devon, 29 year old Andrew Worthington sourced some seeds from the Internet, bought a (legal) hydroponic indoor gardening set up, and grew 52 cannabis plants, for a weight of some 2.5 kilo's, which police valued at around £5000.

Mr Worthington was sentenced to a 30-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work in the community and pay £150 prosecution costs.

Compare that if you will, to a case which happened in Oxford, when the judge refused to impose an anti-social behaviour order on a cannabis grower, and also refused to evict him from his home, saying cultivating cannabis is “no worse than having tomato plants”.

12 plants = No Charges At All
Twelve cannabis plants, worth £3,400, were discovered growing under special hydroponic lights at Phillip Pledge’s council flat.

Even though there was no suggestion of supply, and no charges for stealing electricity which would suggest Mr Plege was paying for his power, Oxford City Council sought a possession order for the National Blood Service driver’s home and an ASBO banning him from the housing estate for two years.

Judge Charles Harris, QC, refused both applications, saying that smoking cannabis did not constitute a nuisance. The judge said: “Smoking or possession of a quantity of cannabis, though a criminal offence, does not constitute a nuisance.

“For some reason the Crown Prosecution Service has not charged Mr Pledge. He was arrested and released. If there is evidence against the defendant he should be brought before a criminal court.”

200+ plants = A Fine
A property developer was been fined £5,000 after police discovered a cannabis farm in a shop he was renovating.

Andrew Chetwynd had been ordered to carry out unpaid work for growing the class C drug just six months before police discovered 209 plants, worth £31,000, at the former Falcon Bags shop, in Ilkeston.

A judge at Derby Crown Court told Chetwynd he had not learned his lesson after being "foolish and greedy" for trying to cultivate cannabis.

Judge John Wait fined Chetwynd £5,000, ordered him to pay £500 costs and put him on a six-month curfew.

He told him: "Because you were doing it for greed, in my judgement the appropriate way of dealing with you is by imposing a large fine."

Which all makes a complete mockery of the system our country is policed by, or rather system's, as there is clearly more than one depending where you live.

Isn't it time we sought a little clarity?

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