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Ferre
Cannabis Sacrament Minister.
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
Posts: 7295
Location: Amsterdam
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 Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 6:00 pm Post subject: Cannabis smoking leads to criminality, judge tells arsonist |
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Cannabis smoking leads to criminality, judge tells arsonist
By Stewart Payne
A judge issued a warning about what he believes to be a clear link between cannabis and crime when jailing a drug user.
Judge Anthony Niblett told an arsonist who had set fire to his former girlfriend's house while under the influence of the drug: "Those whose minds are steeped in cannabis are capable of quite extraordinary criminality."
Sentencing Peter West, 33, a habitual drug user, at Hove Crown Court, East Sussex, he added: "Your brain has been steeped in cannabis for most of your adult life."
He described West as a danger to the public after hearing how the blaze gutted the three-bedroom house in Partridge Green, West Sussex, and left his girlfriend and her two young children with just the clothes they stood in. He had set light to her house in a rage fuelled by cannabis and vodka, the court was told.
West, from Cowfold, West Sussex, was a heavy cannabis smoker and also used heroin, cocaine and crack. Lisa Williams, his former partner, told police that West had become increasingly moody and aggressive in the weeks before the attack. On the night of the arson he suddenly punched her and said he was going to burn down the house with all of them inside.
Miss Williams fled with her children. West set the house alight, leading to their neighbours being evacuated.
West admitted assault and arson. Jailing him for life, the judge said West must serve a minimum of two-and-a-half-years before being considered for parole. However, he will remain under licence for life.
The judge criticised the Crown Prosecution Service for not charging West with the more serious offence of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
In March this year the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to re-examine the dangers of cannabis. He acted after researchers in Holland said using it "moderately increases" the risk of psychotic symptoms among the young.
The latest research follows increasing concerns about the downgrading of the drug. Health campaigners claim that there is growing evidence that cannabis is more damaging to mental health than was previously thought.
SOURCE...
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... and I got this email on this issue from the Legalize Cannabis Alliance...
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sent to: natasha.kumalo@dca.gsi.gov.uk
Dear Ms. Kumalo,
I refer to the above article that reports the comments of Judge Anthony Niblett who said "Those whose minds are steeped in cannabis are capable of quite extraordinary criminality."
Somewhere between 4 and 10 million people in the UK have used cannabis in the last year or so, the vast majority of whom, beyond their cannabis offences, are law-abiding citizens. Many of them may also be using for "medical" reasons, and although the law may not accept the medical benefits of cannabis, it is profoundly unjust to accuse them of being "capable of quite extraordinary criminality."
I wish this complaint to be taken formally and to be advised of any and all actions taken as a result.
Alun Buffry
Legalise Cannabis Alliance
PO Box 198
Norwich
NR3 3WB
http://www.lca-uk.org/
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indicaspice
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 1491
Location: somewhere on earth
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| Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 2:46 am Post subject: |
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| "Those whose minds are steeped in cannabis are capable of quite extraordinary criminality." |
And those whose minds are narrow are capable of extraordinary stupidity.
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