Marijuana Among Tomatoes
By Michelle Fabio
Judging from the experience of 42-year-old Paul Clutton of Merseyside, England, tomato growers need to be very vigilant of “weeds” growing among their plants.
You see, Clutton claims that one of the biggest cannabis plants local police officers had ever seen had “just come up between the tomatoes.”
Police were acting on a tip when they went to investigate Clutton’s 8 foot by 6 foot greenhouse—which was almost completely taken up by an enormous marijuana plant.
Indeed, shovels were necessary to dig up the plant that Clutton said he hadn’t removed because he didn’t want to disturb the root system of the peppers, leeks, and tomatoes he was growing.
When police asked Clutton whether he had noticed the plant’s distinct odor and amazing growth rate, Clutton responded that he thought perhaps it was mint; Clutton’s counsel, Paul Williams noted that “[a] strong smell of cannabis may have been suggested by police, but that is irrelevant if Mr. Clutton does not know what cannabis smells like.”
The court didn’t buy Clutton’s version of “I didn’t inhale,” though, particularly since the plant was staked to the ground suggesting intentional cultivation; Clutton was sentenced to a 12- month community order, 60 hours of unpaid work, and to pay £220 in court costs.
Let this be a warning to all tomato-growers.
Source: I just thought I was growing tomatoes, not cannabis, your honour
March 10th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Dear lord somebody actually did it. I almost got arrested for growing a Texas Star Hibiscus and I did inhale.
March 10th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
LOL!!! Yeah, those pesky weeds that spring up in greenhouses all the time and take over…
Back in the early ’70s my wayward brother had some little pot plants growing on a porch - in pots. Told our grandmother they were “Chinese tomatoes,” so she took particularly special care of them…
March 11th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
You ladies both have me laughing…thanks
April 18th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Hi There, i just came accross your blog through stumbleupon and think it is fantastic. Lovely food pics especially. I have so many blogs in my RSS that I usually dont even stop on food blogs as I hardly have time to read the ones that i have already! Good news is that I just added yours and will try and read it as much as possible. Have you been cooking long? If you feel like sharing some of your food pics and sharing them with others then http://www.ifoods.tv is my site and I’d love to see you there. I started as a blogger a year ago as well and realised that there are so many good blogs out there but so few people know about them and get to read them so I wanted to find a place to showcase food photos, recipes and videos. Anyway enough rambling on from me, best of luck and keep up the good work!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Hey Niall - Thanks for stopping by. I’m not a cook here; the only thing I serve up are the articles.
In any event, check out the shout out to you in “This Week IN Tomatoes”
-reggie