at drug guides

POLITICIANS today called for an investigation into a firm selling cannabis-growing guides and giving away free seeds.

Bulls Emporium in Portland Road, Hove, is advertising the guides - which include 50 hemp seeds and an instruction book - for £9.95 on the Internet.

The firm's shop is directly opposite West Hove Junior and Infants schools and it is just a few hundred yards away from Stoneham Park - in the past a haven for drug takers.

Bulls Emporium also advertises details of how to make whisky from potatoes in a book dubbed the Moonshine Bible.

The international mail-order business also sells lock-picking sets which could be used to get into homes or other properties.

Its website says the hemp seeds are supplied in packs of 50 and are dispatched in plain padded envelopes.

The guide was also sold over the counter to an Argus reporter.

It lists different types available from Dutch seed suppliers, including Amstel Gold, which it describes as giving a "good high".

Another brand is labelled AK47, nicknamed The Killer, and is available at £114 for ten seeds.

According to the website it is "aromatic, sweet-tasting, producing an incredible debilitating high. Excellent indoor results. This is a truly militant strain! Expect severe cerebral damage. Takes no prisoners. Highly recommended. An absolute must!"

But the site warns it is illegal to grow cannabis in the UK without Home Office approval.

It also warns that while it is legal to sell all the goods and equipment the company offers, the purposes to which they may be put by individuals could be considered illegal.

The site adds: "We strongly advise against breaking the law. These seeds are intended only for export to countries where cultivation of cannabis is permitted."

Most of the company's catalogue is made up of electrical and computer equipment. It also offers listening bugs, tracking systems and other sophisticated surveillance equipment.

Hove MP Ivor Caplin called for a police investigation into the Argus revelations. "I would expect the local drugs squad to take an interest in the Argus investigation.

"I have had a long-standing involvement with the YMCA and the residents in their campaign against drugs in the Stoneham Park area.

"This type of irresponsible action gives the wrong impression about drugs to young people and foils all the attempts that have been made to deal with the problem in this area."

Hove councillor Heather James called for a change in the law to make supplying cannabis and hemp seeds illegal.

She said: "I am absolutely stunned to find out about this. What on earth does he think people who get hold of these seeds will do with them?

"They are not going to just sit there and look at them. They are obviously going to grow them."

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the situation and the local beat officer will continue to monitor it and take action if necessary.

"At the moment they are not breaking the law because it is not illegal to sell cannabis or hemp seeds, only to grow them."

Bulls managing director Jim Payne said: "I am doing nothing illegal. There are plenty of other shops in the area selling cannabis seeds.

"They also sell all the equipment for smoking cannabis. I don't because I think it would be wrong to do so.

"When you came in here you bought a guide and the seeds were given away with it. You can buy hemp seeds in pet shops as pet food.

"You cannot buy cannabis seeds over the counter here and we are not selling them from this country. Our website is based in America.

"We make it clear that growing cannabis here is illegal."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.