See which five UK police forces have 'freed the weed'

A NUMBER of police forces in the UK are turning a blind eye to cannabis – but only if it is used for personal consumption.

By Margi Murphy

 

 
GETTY SPLIFFING: Police forces are relaxing their attitude to weed
 

Avon and Somerset Police yesterday confirmed it will not hunt down marijuana smokers unless they are part of a "more harmful situation and endangers vulnerable people".

They will still crack down on those who make and sell the Class B drug or smoke it in front of schools and children.

A spokesperson told Daily Star Online: "We do not proactively seek out people who use cannabis but we do take a rigorous approach to dealing with anyone found in possession of it and they will always be dealt in one of a number of ways.

"They will either be offered intervention, such as educational programmes, given a caution, asked to voluntarily attend a police station for interview or they may be arrested.

"We regularly receive information from the public about suspected cannabis cultivation sites. As the public would expect we research that intelligence and act on what we’re told."

It follows Durham, Derbyshire, Dorset and Surrey police forces who have all announced a lenient stance on dope smokers.

Avon and Somerset said that cannabis was still a public concern, however.

There have been increased daily complaints about weed "cultivation sites" that encourage growing the marijuana plant.

A spokesman added: "These sites are taken very seriously as they can often involve vulnerable people being forced to grow cannabis against their will."

Last year Durham Police said said people who grew cannabis for their own use was not a priority.

 
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And the Met have experimented with a relaxed attitude to possession to focus on serious crime in some London boroughs.

The news comes as several countries across the world have "freed the weed".

Australia, California, Portugal and North Korea have decriminalised the drug – but potheads will need a valid prescription to get their hands on it.