The Unfortunate Story
of the Cannabis Book

Mick Marlow, the Worcester writer behind the pseudonym, is a passionate believer in the legalisation of Cannabis and is too straightforward a person to make out in any way that his book was not for its intended purpose. On top of this, so practical was his approach that he had no objection to corresponding with readers who might require further advice.

But this, I'm afraid, is counted as "incitement" to cultivate cannabis.

Somewhere along the line, an article appeared in a local paper; and someone decided to send this to the police together with a copy of the book. And although the Guardian newsaper tells us that it was "allegedly" described by one of the detectives involved as "the best book on cannabis growing I have ever read," a most unfortunate turn of events ensued.

Firstly a date for the "incitement" court-case was set; and secondly, the night before the appointed day, the police set off to search Mick's son's caravan.

Before they even got to the caravan itself, they found him toking up with a few friends in a parked car nearby. This was all that was necessary, it seems, to justify a search of Mick's own house. And yes, you've guessed it, there were a few innocent ornamental plants rearing their heads.

Mick never made it to the original court case. And in his absence, a Judge called Mott dismissed the existence of twenty similar books as being "inadmissable" and ordered the remaining copies of the book to be destroyed!

You can write to Mick at:

(Prisoner MK2057)
H.M. Prison Brockenhurst
Hewell Lane
Redditch
Worcester
England
B97 6QS

He was 52 on the 22nd of April and a few belated birthday cards might be appreciated...

Meanwhile PEN International - the writers' organisation - is showing an interest in the case, and a British book-dealer is having talks with a publisher in the Netherlands about republishing the book.