EURODRUG - INFORMATION LIST OF THE EUROPEAN COALITION FOR JUST AND
EFFECTIVE DRUG POLICIES
Dear friends

Herewith I proudfly announce you that the belgian Cannabis Social Club Trekt Uw
Plant has obtained a huge victory today...

The second country after Spain where Cannabis Social Clubs can now start to be built
up is Belgium...

Best wishes

Joep

Today, 25 February 2010, the Court of Appeal in Antwerpen (Chamber 13) has
acquitted the board members of the Belgian Cannabis Social Club Trekt Uw Plant of
the accusation "incitement to drug use", for which they had been convicted in
February 2009 by the Correctional Court.

The courtcase came about after the events of 3 and 5 May 2008 <
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1KU_avtJsM>. During those events the Board
Members of Trekt Uw Plant put each a cannabis seed for their personal plant in a
pot. In this way, they established a collective cannabis plantation, based on a
ministerial guideline dating from January 2005 which establishes that the possession
of max. 3 grammes or 1 cannabisplant is no longer persecuted.

However, the Antwerp prosecutor decided to persecute the board members on the
accusation of "incitement to drug use" .

Today the Court of Appeal has judged that the actions of Trekt Uw Plant were not
meant to incite others to use. The Court accepted the arguments of the defense that
these actions are meant to create legal security for the cultivation of cannabis for
personal use, in which the promotion of public health and the prevention of public
nuisance and criminality are crucial factors.

With this verdict, the Court of Appeal confirms that the goals of Trekt Uw Plant are
legitimate. Trekt Uw Plant wants to be a legal alternative for the illegal market. If
Belgian cannabis users may grow their cannabis by themselves or in group, they do
not need to come in contact with this illegal market and the number of Belgian
tourists to coffeeshops atin the Dutch border cities will fall significantly.

In the concept of Trekt Uw Plant, which has been accepted by the Court of Appeal,
users will be able to count with a product of constant quality, which will help them to
rationalise and diminish their use. Also the illegal cultivation of cannabis, with all
problems caused by the illegal environment, such as theft of electricity and violation
of fire safety and environmental rules, will diminish significantly. When a plantation is
tolerated by authorities, requirements can be established in the field of safety and
environment.

In June 2008, Trekt Uw Plant was also acquitted, for similar facts. This second
acquittance encourages us to continue in the fight for a coherent and effective
cannabis policy in Belgium.

This press release though is not meant to incite others to use cannabis or any other
drug.

--



EUROPEAN COALITION FOR JUST AND EFFECTIVE DRUG POLICIES

Lange Lozanastraat 14 ­ 2018 Antwerpen - Belgium

Tel. + 32 (0)3 293 0886 / Mob. + 32 (0)495 122644

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it <mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > / www.encod.org <
http://www.encod.org>


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