Cannabis charity

[Gob]

A British couple who ran a cannabis factory have been jailed despite using most of the proceeds of their illicit activities to help a Kenyan village where they were regular visitors.

Michael Foster, 62, and Susan Cooper, 63, made hundreds of thousands of pounds from a sophisticated cannabis growing operation at their Lincolnshire farmhouse, which was only discovered when a police officer chasing a burglar near their home recognised the distinctive smell coming from the property.

It was described at Lincoln crown court as "the most unusual cannabis growing case of this type".

The couple paid for life-saving surgery for a villager near Mombasa, Kenya, purchased computers for an eye hospital, and paid for schooling for children, the court heard.

But their philanthropic activity was funded by growing cannabis at their farmhouse in Little Sutton, which was raided by police in June 2010.

Prosecutor Jon Dee told the court: "The couple were both in their 60s and were of previous good character. For six years they produced cannabis in significant quantities.

"It perhaps can be best summed up by Mr Foster, who told police in his own words during his interview that it started off as a hobby and turned into a business.

"At the time this couple were completely off the police radar," Dee said.

"They were caught completely by chance."

The police recovered £20,000 ($30,000) in a carrier bag and 159 cannabis plants, with an estimated value of £20,000, describing it as a "professional and commercial set up".

The annual electricity bill for the farmhouse had increased by £2000, which the couple claimed was because they were running a pottery business with a kiln.

Bank statements showed that £300,000 had been paid into their joint account over six years from 2004. A further £100,000 had gone into an account held by Cooper.

They admitted four charges of producing cannabis and a single offence of possessing criminal money.

Gareth Wheetman, mitigating for Foster, said the fact they were repeatedly flying off to Kenya in itself required money. "But the evidence demonstrates much of the money was put to charitable and good use. While in Kenya they bought a computer for a local eye hospital, paid for children to be put through school and paid for a life-saving operation on a man's gangrenous leg."

Chris Milligan, mitigating for Cooper, described her as a "good person who has done a bad thing".

He said there was another side to her. "She has been a good mother, wife and partner to Mr Foster," he said. "She paid for the treatment of the young adult with a gangrenous infection in his leg who was given two days to live."

Judge Sean Morris, jailing them both for three years, said they were a respectable couple of good character.

He said: "You were growing [cannabis] on a significant scale, jetting off to Kenya on it.

"I am sure you were doing good things in Kenya with your drugs money, whether that was to appease your consciences, I can only speculate."

[Lord Jim]

Well, I believe laws against marijuana are stupid, suck up scarce law enforcement resources needlessly, and have pointless social costs, but that having been said...

So long as it is illegal, it doesn't seem to me that "I used the proceeds from my criminal enterprise for a good cause" is much of a defense....

I could see where it could play a role in sentencing, but it wouldn't be an argument for not charging them....

ETA:

Oh never mind....that's what I get for skimming again...

Given their ages, no prior history of criminal activity and the ameliorating circumstances the sentence is excessive...(Especially given the fact that in the UK people get less for much worse....)

[Gob]

ALMOST half of people growing small quantities of cannabis in Australia use if for medicinal purposes, a new study has found.

In the first study of its size in Australia, the National Drug Research Institute is conducting an anonymous online survey to find out more about people who grow small amounts of cannabis.

A research fellow at the institute, Monica Barratt, said about 250 people had taken part so far.

''The majority grow for personal use and also to avoid contact with criminals,'' Dr Barratt said on Sunday, ahead of her presentation at a major alcohol and drug conference in Melbourne this week. [pointing out the bleeding obvious?]

Almost half of the survey respondents said they grew cannabis for medicinal purposes, including people with cancer and HIV, Dr Barratt said. Nearly all of the respondents were men with a median age of 34. More than half of respondents lived outside major cities and were generally well educated and employed, she said. Some 85 per cent of growers said they did it for personal use and cultivation had sparked contact with police for about one-third.

Growers typically reported growing six juvenile (four mature) plants. The most common places to grow cannabis was the garden, inside a cupboard, in parks or bush and inside a shed.