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'Strongest cannabis in Britain' produced in county
Published Date: 11 March 2009
By Paul Whitehouse
CANNABIS reared in West Yorkshire factories is among the most potent grown in England, police have revealed.
That puts users at increased risk of developing mental health complications from using the drug.
Factories in the county have been uncovered at the rate of more than one a day in the past year and seizures of plants have increased across the country.
So-called 'skunk' cannabis grown in the UK now accounts for about 90 per cent of the drug used, rather than the traditional resin which is imported.
Many UK forces have seen the number of seizures from cannabis factories increase dramatically, in some cases up threefold in only five years.
Growing the drug in this country means the traffickers get around the hurdle of customs.
But it creates a new problem for society because skunk cannabis has active compounds that are substantially more powerful than those found in imported varients.
The chemical that gives the drug its effect is called tetra-hydro-cannibol and tests have shown that is present at higher levels in plants recovered in West Yorkshire than anywhere else in the country.
"This gives rise for concern and it should also give parents cause for concern. Young people still developing are at real risk of causing them physical and mental harm by consuming cannabis," said force drugs co-ordinator Bryan Dent.
During 2008, West Yorkshire Police discovered 500 cannabis factories.
South Yorkshire Police made 616 seizures of plants last year, with a total street value of plants seized in excess of £5.5m.
Across Britain, the Metropolitan force found 654, up from 206 five years previously, and Gwent, which had no seizures in 2004, had 151 last year.
Earlier this year cannabis was reclassified as a category B drug, after being downgraded to category C several years ago.
New guidance has been drawn up by the National Policing Improvement Agency to tackle cannabis cultivation.
A national cannabis co-ordinator has also been appointed to share information and best practice between forces, a Home Office spokesman said.
He added: "We are determined to make this country a hostile place for criminals involved in cannabis cultivation.
"The high levels of detection of cannabis farms, as revealed in these figures, are an encouraging sign and demonstrate our commitment to catching those who bring cannabis on to our streets.
"Upgrading cannabis to Class B enables police to focus more on tackling supply of this illegal and harmful drug.
"We are working hard with the Association of Chief Police Officers to build a better national picture to deal with this problem more effectively."
Association of Chief Police Officers spokesman Allan Gibson said: "Since 2000, we have seen an increase in the number of factories which have spread right across the UK.
"We have also found that police are detecting them more as they increase in number."
Factories are often created in flats or houses, using hydroponics equipment normally used in agriculture to grow crops such as rocket.
They rely on heat from powerful electric lamps to 'force' the crop and some of the most sophisticated factories have crops growing at different stages to ensure a continual supply.
Cultivation: A growing issue
Humberside Police discovered 19 cannabis factories in 2004-05, with 49 found since April 2008
West Yorkshire Police recovered 60,000 cannabis plants from raids during 2008
In South Yorkshire police made 606 seizures during that year
Plants recovered in South Yorkshire had a total street value in excess of £5.5m
That compares to a total value of less than £150,000 for cannabis resin seizures
A gang of three Vietnamese drug cultivators were jailed for a total of 16 years in Sheffield in January.
They were found growing cannabis with a street value of £330,000 at seven addresses in Sheffield and Rotherham.
Source:
'Strongest cannabis in Britain' produced in county
Published Date: 11 March 2009
By Paul Whitehouse
CANNABIS reared in West Yorkshire factories is among the most potent grown in England, police have revealed.
That puts users at increased risk of developing mental health complications from using the drug.
Factories in the county have been uncovered at the rate of more than one a day in the past year and seizures of plants have increased across the country.
So-called 'skunk' cannabis grown in the UK now accounts for about 90 per cent of the drug used, rather than the traditional resin which is imported.
Many UK forces have seen the number of seizures from cannabis factories increase dramatically, in some cases up threefold in only five years.
Growing the drug in this country means the traffickers get around the hurdle of customs.
But it creates a new problem for society because skunk cannabis has active compounds that are substantially more powerful than those found in imported varients.
The chemical that gives the drug its effect is called tetra-hydro-cannibol and tests have shown that is present at higher levels in plants recovered in West Yorkshire than anywhere else in the country.
"This gives rise for concern and it should also give parents cause for concern. Young people still developing are at real risk of causing them physical and mental harm by consuming cannabis," said force drugs co-ordinator Bryan Dent.
During 2008, West Yorkshire Police discovered 500 cannabis factories.
South Yorkshire Police made 616 seizures of plants last year, with a total street value of plants seized in excess of £5.5m.
Across Britain, the Metropolitan force found 654, up from 206 five years previously, and Gwent, which had no seizures in 2004, had 151 last year.
Earlier this year cannabis was reclassified as a category B drug, after being downgraded to category C several years ago.
New guidance has been drawn up by the National Policing Improvement Agency to tackle cannabis cultivation.
A national cannabis co-ordinator has also been appointed to share information and best practice between forces, a Home Office spokesman said.
He added: "We are determined to make this country a hostile place for criminals involved in cannabis cultivation.
"The high levels of detection of cannabis farms, as revealed in these figures, are an encouraging sign and demonstrate our commitment to catching those who bring cannabis on to our streets.
"Upgrading cannabis to Class B enables police to focus more on tackling supply of this illegal and harmful drug.
"We are working hard with the Association of Chief Police Officers to build a better national picture to deal with this problem more effectively."
Association of Chief Police Officers spokesman Allan Gibson said: "Since 2000, we have seen an increase in the number of factories which have spread right across the UK.
"We have also found that police are detecting them more as they increase in number."
Factories are often created in flats or houses, using hydroponics equipment normally used in agriculture to grow crops such as rocket.
They rely on heat from powerful electric lamps to 'force' the crop and some of the most sophisticated factories have crops growing at different stages to ensure a continual supply.
Cultivation: A growing issue
Humberside Police discovered 19 cannabis factories in 2004-05, with 49 found since April 2008
West Yorkshire Police recovered 60,000 cannabis plants from raids during 2008
In South Yorkshire police made 606 seizures during that year
Plants recovered in South Yorkshire had a total street value in excess of £5.5m
That compares to a total value of less than £150,000 for cannabis resin seizures
A gang of three Vietnamese drug cultivators were jailed for a total of 16 years in Sheffield in January.
They were found growing cannabis with a street value of £330,000 at seven addresses in Sheffield and Rotherham.
Source:
