Source: Trekt Uw Plant

Somewhere in Belgium, the association of cannabis consumers and producers Trekt Uw Plant has installed a cannabis plantation, based on the principle of 1 plant per member. All members can put their plant in this plantation, on the condition that they fulfill all requirements: be over 18 years old, live in Belgium and consume cannabis.

From mid August 2010, the first plants that are ready to harvest have been delivered to the members

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Since 2005, a ministerial guideline is applied in Belgium according to which the possession of max. 3 grammes of cannabis and 1 female plant is not persecuted.

During the past years Trekt Uw Plant has tested this guideline. In two opportunities, on December 12th, 2006 and May 3d, 2008, a collerctive cannabis plantation was presented in public. Both times, the plantation was confiscated and the board members of the association were arrested and persecuted.

Both times, the association was condemned by the local judge, the first time because of cannabis possession, the second time because of “incitement to drug use’. And both times the association appealed against this decision and finally was acquitted, on June 26th, 2008 and February 25th, 2010.

Possession of one cannabis plant for personal use is not a crime but a violation. A violation which can only be sanctioned (as determined by the -called VPV (“Simplified Registration”). The cannabis plant can not be confiscated, if the owner doesn’t give his or her permission.

From the fact that we have been acquitted twice, Trekt Uw Plants draws the conclusion that its method fits completely within the intention of the Belgian lawmakers: by making an end to the persecution of the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal use, police and justice authorities can concentrate themselves on serious drug related crime and the accent in policy is shifted from justice to public health. Growing for personal use is a healthy alternative for the illegal market and for tourism to the coffeeshops in the Netherlands. An association like Trekt Uw Plant uses ecological cultivation methods, without any risk for adulteration of the product like is the case on the black market. Contrary to the illegal market, the association is not accessible for minors.

The purpose of Trekt Uw Plant is, according to the statutes of the association, to enable the members to grow 1 cannabis plant per person. In the past years, prosecutors have insisted two times to dissolve the association. Both times the judges have not followed this request.

By organising the cultivation for the personal consumption of its members in a collective plantation, Trekt Uw Plant creates a healthy alternative for the illegal market and for the drug tourism to the coffeeshops in The Netherlands. The association uses ecological growing techniques, with no risk for adulteration or contamination of the substance, such as is the case on the black market. Contrary to the illegal trade the association Trekt Uw Plant is not accessible for minors.

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