Just how can this be legal?

From the archive, first published Thursday 29th Apr 2004.

A SHOP in Evesham's Port Street is selling cannabis seeds and magic mushrooms and there is nothing the police can do about it.

Vale MP Peter Luff intends to question the Home Secretary on this apparent legal loophole in Parliament.

Currently cannabis seeds are exempt from any legislation and selling them, or magic mushrooms in their natural state, is not a criminal offence. But legal action can be taken against anyone selling mushrooms that have been processed in any way.

Owner Brian Robson, opened his shop Senses three months ago and said he only sold the seeds and mushrooms to over-18s. He added: "We get a lot of MS and arthritis sufferers coming in to buy the seeds and a lot of the older generation. The seeds are a cooking product and can be used like any other herb."

Mr Robson, who is backed by the Bengeworth Traders Association, added: "I do not think that cannabis leads on to other drugs - it depends where people have to go to get it"

Katie Gilbert, secretary of the Bengeworth Traders said: "We are happy to see someone in the shop and we fully support a local independent trader into the street. We have not had any complaints from any customers at all."

Impressionable

Evesham town councillor Alan Booth, who lives in Port Street said: "I do not think selling these products is morally right, especially with the drugs problem we have in our town but there is nothing we can do about it."

Bernard Roberts, headteacher of Prince Henry's High School said: "I would imagine that the people selling these products will claim they are very responsible, but the reality of the situation is sometimes impressionable young people get involved with this sort of thing."

Petra Maxwell, spokeswoman for DrugScope said: "There is no evidence to show that the use of cannabis leads on to other drugs. A lot of heroin users have used cannabis but there are a lot of people who use cannabis regularly that do not use hard drugs.

"We have seen quite a lot of growth in shops selling magic mushrooms over the last few months and it seems this is on the up.

"Shops do seem to be self-regulating in not selling to under-18s and giving information and advice.

"Shop owners seem to be taking quite a responsible attitude."

Evesham PC Paul Adams said: "We can only deal with what is in the law, we cannot deal with ifs and maybes.

"Whatever the morals of this are, it is not for the police to express a moral perception for society."

MP Peter Luff was amazed to discover products which can be processed into class A and class C drugs were available in Port Street.

He said: "The fact that you can buy cannabis seeds but not grow them seems ridiculous to me. This deepens my concern that the Government policy on drugs is in turmoil. People are confused."

What do you think? Do you think the law should be changed? Write to: Evesham Journal, Briar Close, Evesham, Worcestershire. WR11 4JT, or email Claire Charles by clicking on the byline link at the top of the story.

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