Pubdate: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 Times Colonist Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 DUTCH CITY WANTS TO GROW POT IN CO-OPERATIVE, FLOUTING FEDERAL LAW The Dutch city of Utrecht wants cannabis smokers to grow their own marijuana in a co-operative, a move that would go against the Netherlands' drive to discourage soft drug use. It also would be illegal, the government said. The use of marijuana is legal in the Netherlands, but the mass cultivation of cannabis plants is illegal and controlled by criminal groups. "If you have some users grow the cannabis, you remove it from the criminal and illegal scene," said Utrecht Alderman Victor Everhardt. By controlled cultivation, the quality also would be guaranteed and reduce health hazards, he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.