Cannabis Advice Please!

[Smowball]

No I'm not taking it and never have!! I've discovered that someone very close to me is growing it in their garage behind a secret wall, and then harvesting it and selling it. It's meant to be a one off thing but I'm really shocked. I had no idea as I have no sense of smell. I've told them( it's the man doing it but woman knows) how stupid they are being, and the woman isn't happy about it at but he says he's just doing it to get some money for the family. Apart from being worried sick for them it suddenly occurred to me - what on earth would happen if the police turned up whilst I was there?? Would I be arrested??

[ummmm]

Totally agree, jno.

[Cloverjo]

I used to live with a dope dealer. It never occurred to me that I might be arrested if there was a raid.

A policeman came to our flat once and it was obvious what was going on in there: curtains still closed in the afternoon, pizza and chocolate wrappers on the table, a load of people still groggy in the living room. Nothing happened. Don't worry, Smow. Just don't go and see them, as it bothers you.

(I'm not saying it's all ok, btw. I'm as bothered as most people by cannabis use.)

[EDDIE51]

If as Smow says the grower has gone to the trouble of building a false wall to hide it this is NOT 'a one off thing'!

[evil__sheep]

i think everyone hs missed smowballs point - clearly it's a member of her family and therefore there are bigger implications to their wider family of reporting. Also stopping visiting probably isn't an option either

[aelmpvw]

surely if you were in their house you wouldn't be arrested? mind you, if you were in the garage (behind the secret wall) tending the plants you probably would be

[EDDIE51]

I have not missed the point. The point is that if this is reported and stopped now while it is a minor offence, those concerned very unlikely to get a prison sentence. But the longer it is allowed to carry on the worse the eventual outcome will be, prison and loss of the house!
Reporting this now is doing them a favor. No One will know who put the report in!

[Quizproquo]

Or Eddie, you could say those things to the people concerned and let them make the choice.
You don't have to report them.

[Old_Geezer]

In fairness, I think it would be difficult to turn in someone you are close to, but I think you can have a small argument over it and say you can not come to their place any more whilst it is going on. If you point out the risks and where it will leave their family (not to mention themselves) if they don't quit while "ahead" then your justification and point will have been made.

I don't believe anyone can reasonably expect you to continue to tacitly approve by visiting again while it is going on. They continue at their own risk against the advice of those who care for them, if they so choose to do.

[jno]

Eddie, have you reported your own daughter to the police?

I can only say I wouldn't.

[dannyk13]

If you were on the premises when the police arrived then it is almost certain that you would be arrested along with the culprits.It would then for you to prove your innocence.( That would happen in my old Force).Why not make a quick call to Crimestoppers.

[jno]

your force should have known better than to think people have to prove their innocence. It's up to the prosecution to prove their guilt.

[dannyk13]

Jno, Yes if the matter went to court what I am saying is that she could prove her innocence to the police to avoid being charged.

[EDDIE51]

Anyone found on the premises when a house is raided for a drugs bust will be arrested. You will then have to prove you were an innocent bystander. But the fact that you knew about it but did not try to stop it will not help your case.
jno, it is totally pointless reporting a 'user' , small amounts of cannabis for personal use are not not prosecuted, the user is given a warning only . But a dealer or grower is in a different league! I have reported her dealer and will do so again.
Growing cannabis is a more serious offence than just 'supplying' as a dealer. Smows relative will be selling the cannabis on via a dealer, that is how it works, the grower does not want users queuing up to buy it as there is too much chance of a user getting caught and telling the police where they got it from.

[EDDIE51]

dannyk The police will charge anyone found on the premises. Those people will then have to prove to the court , not the police, that they were innocent.
Just being found in a house where there is a large amount of cannabis is sufficient reason for you to be charged!. ''I was just a visitor'' is probably the most common excuse used ! I have worked inside a prison remember and have talked to /advised drug dealers. I know a bit more about it than most of those who have posted on this thread!

[dannyk13]

Eddie , After investigation the police could well decide that she has no case to answer,in which case she would be released without charge.

[dannyk13]

Eddie,
//dannyk The police will charge anyone found on the premises// Not true they will arrest the culprits but will only charge them if there is evidence that a crime has been committed.

[EDDIE51]

^ One guy I met used his company van to collect a large stash of cannabis.
His excuse was, '' It's not my van, I was only told to drive it, I did not know what was in it'' The court did not believe him, he got 3 years and the van was confiscated even though it was not his! Allowing the van to be used to transport drugs made the company liable even though they probably did not know about it, they still have a responsibility to ensure that the van was not used for anything illegal.
A similar situation would arise in the case of a rented house being used to grow drugs!

[EDDIE51]

dannyk I speak from personal experience having worked with drug dealers inside a prison education dept. The police WILL charge every one and let the courts decide who is guilty and who is innocent !! They don't have the time or the inclination to spend time working out who to charge. They just charge them and let the courts work it out!

[naomi24]

Old_Geezer's advice at 08:59 Thu is the most sensible.