The big idea
It would be impractical and arbitrary to specify a number of plants that it would be legal to grow for personal use. It would be difficult to distinguish between mature plants and seedlings or cuttings by simple numerical count. I propose that instead limits be placed on the size of area utilised in any cultivation set up and, if using artificial lights, the number and power employed.
An individual may not cultivate cannabis at more than one postal address and that address must be their main residence, the address at which they are registered on the electoral role, and they may only cultivate at that address whilst the electoral role is in force. They would be required to have a valid registration on the electoral role for the address at which they are cultivating.
No other limitation on the method of production should be imposed.
No limitation on the number of crops produced in a year should be imposed.
No limitation should be imposed on the amount of material between being harvested and becoming ready for consumption that an individual would be allowed to store save that it be for personal use only in private by adults, be stored at the same postal address at which it is cultivated and that it not be sold or supplied to others by any commercial transaction so that the individual cultivator cannot make any personal gain.
The Government shall not be permitted to impose any charge, tax or licence on an individual cultivating cannabis for personal use in private by adults or levy any tax or charge on the cannabis they produce.
Any equipment used for cultivation shall not carry any additional charge or tax other than the current level of VAT at the point of sale.
There may be some debate as to what restrictions in terms of size of area used for cultivation and the number of artificial lights that should be permitted under this proposal.
I would suggest as a starting point for discussion that an area of no more than three square meters in total and two lamps of 400W or one of 1000W would be reasonable.
Others may have different views.
It would be possible that within the maximum limit of square meters this could be sub divided and spread over different locations within the single permitted postal address so that a grower could maintain an area for seedlings and cuttings as well as an area for maturing plants in the flowering stage.
Why does this matter?
Government has no right to interfere with what adults do in private. The right to cultivate Cannabis for personal use in private by adults should be recognised and encompassed in law.
However I do not wish to see a 'loophole' created by which persons could cultivate unlimited quantities of cannabis and claim that it is for personal use when in fact their intention is to circumvent the law and make a commercial profit.
It is problematic to impose limits on a number of allowed plants basis since 50 seedlings 1 inch high do not equate with a single mature plant producing perhaps four to eight ounces of ripe buds.
This proposal introduces clear, practical, enforceable limitations on how and where an individual may cultivate cannabis and on what they may do with the cannabis so produced.