Publisher's Synopsis
Proposals to reclassify cannabis as a Class C drug suggest that the law will be more lenient towards possession offences, but tougher on offences of supply. However, the proposals make no reference to the issue of cultivation meaning that there is currently a policy vacuum in relation to those who cultivate small amounts of cannabis for themselves and their friends. Are they to be tolerated, or to be punished heavily?;This report draws from a wide range of existing statistical data, research evidence and interviews, and aims to improve the quality of public debate on the issue. The report provides information about: the extent and the market share of home cultivation; the nature of the interactions between commercial cannabis markets and home cultivation; current British enforcement practice in relation to home cultivation; current law and enforcement practice in other developed countries; and the constraints imposed by the UN conventions and the room for manoeuvre within these conventions.;The report examines on-going local studies of cannabis users and provides an overview of cannabis seed merchants and suppliers of hydroponic and lighting equipment offered on the internet. The study also includes a small number of illustrative case studies of small-scale home cultivation.
