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Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Times
Why the smell of cannabis is everywhere and no one does anything
A businessman named Patrick Hannaford is standing on a bridge in the Derbyshire village of Cressbrook, peering down into the River Wye. He's escaped London for a weekend of fly-fishing and is scanning the water for trout, enjoying the pristine air. Then a young hoodied couple arrive, wreathed in plumes of cannabis smoke. The idyll is broken. 'It was the boldness of them that got me,' says Hannaford*, 64. 'The lad even came up and started chatting to me, spliff in his hand, about whether the fish were biting. I could have been a policeman or anyone — they just couldn't care.' • Legalisation of cannabis in US driving soaring rates at UK border From genteel parts of the Peak District to the dingiest squares in central Manchester, the acrid smell of cannabis smoke is increasingly hard to avoid. In an alarming admission to The Sunday Times last month, Sir Andy Marsh, a chief constable and head of the College of Policing, said: 'I smell it in communities I would never have smelt it in before, from little villages to towns. We should be prepared to do something about it.' Yet most of the time, overstretched police do nothing about it. In their absence, some councils, receiving increasing numbers of complaints from residents, are trialling their own interventions to tackle nuisance cannabis smoke. Experts say that smoking of the drug in public has increased notably since the Covid lockdowns. • Angela Rayner: I've taken all sorts — but we won't legalise cannabis 'There's definitely more [cannabis] smoking in public and it's for two reasons,' says Simon Harding, professor of criminology and sociology at St Mary's University in Twickenham. 'First, it's a provocation: 'what are you gonna do about it?' 'The other part is just a nonchalance. It's so much part of everyday life at home that they no longer have the boundaries between their private social space and their public space. You see it on the bus, where people think it's fine to have loud music or videos on their phones.' Non-smokers are becoming increasingly frustrated. An Ipsos poll of 1,081 adults conducted for The Sunday Times found 64 per cent bothered by the smell of cannabis smoke in their area. Forty-three per cent said it had become more prevalent in the past year. Nor is this just an urban issue. Nearly a third (31 per cent) of people living in rural areas had smelt cannabis smoke near their homes in the previous month, compared with 45 per cent of city dwellers. In fact, cannabis smoke was in the top five gripes about modern British life, beaten only by littering/fly-tipping, phone theft, shoplifting and badly parked e-bikes. To get a better sense of how and why cannabis has become so prevalent, we visited and conducted interviews in West Yorkshire, Berkshire, London and East Anglia, regularly encountering its distinctive waft, and finding a nation caught between tolerance and mounting frustration. According to the Office for National Statistics, 6.8 per cent of people in England and Wales reported using cannabis in 2023-24, which is about 2.3 million people. Surprisingly, given the apparent increase in public smoking, that marked a 200,000 decline in overall use. The picture is mixed. In Hebden Bridge, the artsy Pennines town, cannabis use is remarkably public and commonplace. In a late afternoon audit of the town centre on a Thursday last month, we came across eight groups of people or individuals who appeared to be smoking it, and one apparent cannabis deal taking place in broad daylight in the town square. We saw no police. On a bench in Calder Holmes Park, we met Jahan, 27-years-old, with a long, black ponytail, who was smoking a joint with his mother. 'There are loads of pubs here who allow people to smoke cannabis in their beer gardens,' said Jahan. 'Locals round here don't care.' Not everyone in the town is so relaxed. Michael Hylands, 75, retired and with neatly cropped white hair, angrily described it as an 'epidemic', pointing out that this is not just a crime and disorder issue. The strength of high-grade skunk being smoked today doesn't just smell more pungent, but is having a major psychological impact on users. • Legalisation of cannabis in US driving soaring rates at UK border 'Everywhere you go, it's really bad,' he said. 'The young ones here are really struggling with it psychologically. The weed's so strong today, and it's everywhere. You'd think it was legal.' When asked about our findings, Hebden Bridge's local police inspector, Craig Collins, said his officers were carrying out 'proactive policing operations' and had made six stop-and-searches in the past month, resulting in one arrest and some 'community resolutions'. The authorities are certainly supposed to police cannabis use; the drug retains a class B classification, with those caught in possession facing up to five years in prison, a fine or both. But in reality, many cannabis smokers operate with something close to impunity. Police resources are mostly devoted elsewhere. In December, a survey of 253 police officers conducted by Opinium for the Centre for Social Justice think tank found that 66 per cent believed the drug has, in practice, been fully, partially or mostly decriminalised. An even greater number said the state's approach doesn't work: One experienced policeman based in Camden, north London, told us it was impractical to expect them to do any more, particularly with the paperwork involved in arresting and processing offenders. 'When an average officer might have 15 or 20 cases on their hands for assaults and other more serious stuff, they're just not going to go around arresting people for smoking a joint,' they said. • Gen Z drink far less than their parents but want drugs decriminalised More effort goes into pursuing the cultivation of the drug, but police are overwhelmed with the number of new 'grows' — cannabis farms — setting up across the country. From vacant rooms above shops to flats, houses and industrial estates, gangs have been setting up grows to supply their local markets, says Harding. In recent years cannabis farming has been dominated by Albanians who have aggressively expanded their operations across the country. The drug is now also widely available online, with advertisements stuck to lampposts and advertising posted on social media. Is there more that can be done? Councils across the UK have been receiving increasing numbers of complaints from residents about public cannabis smoking. In Ipswich, councillor John Cook's environmental health team saw a particular spike in concern from residents whose neighbour's smoke was persistently wafting into their property. His team launched a pilot programme where, rather than treating public cannabis smoking as a crime for the police to handle, they treated it as a nuisance, like loud music or regular bonfire smoke, meaning council officers could intervene more easily. A hotline was set up last year for residents. Council officials would start off by monitoring the property, then knock on the door to tell the offending smoker of the complaint. If that did not work, they would follow up with formal warning letters and, finally, sterner mediation. This had a significant impact. Some 80 per cent of the cases were resolved with the initial 'words of advice', with three quarters of the remainder ceasing after receiving the letter. Only a minority required further mediation. 'I was sceptical at first, but it's been a great success,' says Cook. The nine-month pilot has been made permanent, and complaints have slowed down to a dozen or so a month. Other councils are now looking at launching similar 'cannabis odour' projects. Simon Harding's fear is that antisocial behaviour such as public cannabis smoking is sending wealthier people to live, work and play in privately managed and well-policed housing, office and retail developments, leaving everyone else stuck in crime-infested high streets and housing estates. But even in glossy, privately owned public spaces, the authorities' attitudes to cannabis smoking seem relaxed. Canada Water is a 53-acre expanse of shiny new shops, bars, offices and apartments being developed in what was once a tough area of southeast London. A handful of uniformed security staff employed by British Land, which owns and manages the development, keep watch over the shiny new development. As we began interviewing British Land's operations director Mark Evans about his cannabis policy, we were engulfed in a cloud of smoke. A twentysomething man in sunglasses and a bandana had lit himself a long, pungent joint. On the bench next to him, a father and his young son gazed out over the lake eating ice creams. Nobody said a word. 'I don't see any harm,' Evans explained as we watched the scene. 'Nobody seems bothered and if no one's being affected, and no one's complained, we'd probably let it ride. We don't want to go looking for trouble unnecessarily.' It was similar near the neatly clipped playing fields of Eton College in Berkshire, where we met Dave*, a 50-year-old music teacher and father of two. An advocate of legalisation, he said he usually smokes cannabis twice a week. But he also believes it should be done away from other members of the public. • Sadiq Khan calls for cannabis to be decriminalised As we walked on a footpath through the grounds, by a cricket match being played by boys from the famous school, a man cycled past smoking a joint. Dave tutted in irritation. We had already seen three people smoking cannabis in busy areas on the 20-minute walk from the train station. 'It's just inconsiderate,' he said. 'Most people don't want to smell it or see it, particularly when there's children around. I don't see why they can't just smoke somewhere more private.' He headed into wild grassland lining a lazy River Thames where he found an isolated bench in view of Windsor Castle. 'Beautiful,' he said, producing a neatly rolled joint, which he lit, inhaling deeply. 'And I'm not bothering anyone.' *Some names have been changed
The Sun
12-07-2025
- The Sun
How flood of super-strength cannabis is hitting Britain streets as its links to terrifying crime wave are revealed
THE amount of super-strength cannabis being smuggled in from abroad has escalated to a record high and is behind a terrifying crime wave sweeping Britain, the Sun on Sunday can reveal. More cannabis than any other drug was detected coming into the country by Border Force last year — with the black market in the illegal substance estimated to be worth £2.6billion. 4 4 Border officials seized 85 tonnes of herbal marijuana — up 73 per cent on the previous year — and around 480,000 plants and 416 tonnes of cannabis resin, up 183 per cent on 2023 figures. But despite the massive seizures, illegal drugs are still making their way on to the streets. Now we can reveal a new report has found a direct link between cannabis use and an 'increased risk of perpetration of physical violence, including aggravated assault, sexual aggression, fighting and robbery'. Criminology expert Dr Simon Harding, who helped compile the University of West London report, told the Sun on Sunday: 'The links between violence and cannabis are going under the radar. 'When there are calls for the decriminalisation or legalisation of cannabis, some are thinking of the cannabis of 30 or 40 years ago, which caused fits of giggles. Sword attack 'But what we're dealing with now is more like a Frankenstein genetically modified version of cannabis, with very high THC levels, which makes people very paranoid.' Our revelations come after Sir Andy Marsh, head of the College of Policing, demanded earlier this month that officers crack down on cannabis use. He said the smell of the plant-based drug, which is also known as marijuana or weed, made him 'feel unsafe' and 'is a sign of crime and disorder'. Dr Harding, who is also a regular expert witness at major drug trials, said the new strong cannabis being produced is leading to cases of psychosis. He cited the trial of Marcus Monzo, 37, who last month was found guilty of the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin in Hainault, Essex, while in a state of cannabis-induced psychosis. Smugglers hiding cannabis in luggage at record rates - but are barely trying to hide it Dr Harding said: 'We only have to point to this sword attack. 'Psychosis is not going to happen to everybody, but if you are prone to that and there may be underlying factors, it can be pretty serious stuff and the psychiatric facilities in the UK are full of people suffering from cannabis psychosis.' The influx of cannabis reaching our shores is, in part, fuelled by other countries legalising its use. Of the 173 cannabis smuggling cases already dealt with by our courts this year, the majority came from Thailand. Cannabis was legalised there three years ago, but has become so rife and problematic that last month the government there imposed new rules to try to tackle the issue. Drug lords in Canada, where cannabis is legal, and the US, where some states have followed suit, are also major exporters. Last year there were 75 arrests related to cannabis originating from Canada, and 47 from the US, according to the National Crime Agency. Dr Harding says the marketing of different drug strains from abroad is increasingly sophisticated. Users are being offered an 'a la carte menu' with up to 50 choices. He said: 'The menus are available with different prices and I see it in every drug case I work on. People import it from parts of America and Thailand where it has been decriminalised. 'When other parts of the world decriminalise, it has a knock-on effect in other places.' Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the proportion of robberies taking place while offenders are under the influence of drugs was at 34 per cent in 2024 — up from 25 per cent in 2014. There has also been a worrying rise in children using THC or synthetic cannabis in vapes, with a number of schools issuing warnings to parents. Dr Harding says his report, which was funded by the London Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, found the use of cannabis among youngsters is a terrifying 'gateway to other crime and to violence'. Youths preyed upon He said: 'This is something that goes under most people's radar. It was a big finding in my report.' It is also one of the major ways that youths are preyed upon. He explained: 'The biggest way to recruit for county lines gangs is to get a boy into debt. 'The dealer sells them a little bit of weed on tick for a few weeks. The kids think they have made a friend and they get weed for free. 'By the end of the month the boy has maybe smoked £50 of cannabis, then that dealer comes back and says the debt is £300 and if they don't pay they will be in trouble. 'They have to work it off — and that means shifting or transporting drugs for the dealers.' But earlier this month, London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan called for the possession of 'small quantities of natural cannabis' to be decriminalised. He said it would address concerns that UK drug laws were harming relations between the police and ethnic communities. But in New York, where marijuana was legalised in March 2021, State Senator Mario Mattera warned such a move would be a disaster for our country. He told the Sun on Sunday: 'All you do is smell cannabis on the streets here now. It's terrible and it's out of control. 'We have created a monster, and more people are on drugs. 'The UK needs to look at the US states where the black market is running rampant. 'Look at the crime. Is that what you want? 'What has happened here should be a warning.' 'WEED AT 13 RUINED MY LIFE' 4 A FORMER addict blames smoking cannabis as a teenager for his life of crime. Paul Hannaford, now 55, used to fund his £500-a-day heroin and crack habit through shoplifting and drug dealing. He had been stabbed seven times and served 15 prison sentences before the age of 36. But Paul was a bright child with a talent for football growing up in Romford, East London. It all changed after he was introduced to 'weed' at 13. Within six months, he was smoking it every day. He told The Sun on Sunday: 'If I hadn't tried cannabis, I wouldn't have committed crimes. 'I started with weed, but it made me lazy and affected my mental health. I got chucked out of three schools in one year. 'In every city I go to these days, addiction is getting worse and a lot of it starts off with cannabis. 'Nobody's first drug is crack cocaine or heroin. Weed was the gateway drug.' Now clean for 18 years, Paul gives talks in schools and prisons about the dangers of drugs. He said: 'If fewer people smoked cannabis there would be less crime and fewer mental health issues.'
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plug Power secures new hydrogen supply agreement in US
Hydrogen solutions provider Plug Power has secured a new hydrogen supply agreement from a US-based industrial gas partner until 2030. This enhanced multi-year contract ensures reliable hydrogen for Plug's expanding applications business while aiming to reduce costs and improve cash flows. The extension of this partnership supports Plug's strategy to strengthen margins and operational flexibility while catering to customer needs across more than 275 sites that consume hydrogen. With an increasing number of customer sites relying on its services, Plug is committed to broadening its suite of hydrogen solutions. Plug's expansion efforts include enhancing its domestic generation network. Current operations in Georgia, Tennessee and Louisiana yield a combined capacity of 40t per day of liquid hydrogen production. Additional facilities are underway as part of plans to establish more than 40 new sites by 2025 and accommodate further industry growth from 2026 onwards. Plug CEO Andy Marsh stated: 'This expanded agreement supports our mission to build on our already robust and resilient hydrogen network in the US. 'As we continue to scale our applications business and build long-term partnerships with customers, reliable supply and cost efficiency are critical. This contract is a win for Plug, our customers, our suppliers and our margin profile. The immediate cost reduction complements our progress this year with Project Quantum Leap, focused on cost optimisation and cash flow improvement.' This development follows recent US legislation promoting clean energy initiatives for future market expansion. In June 2025, Plug Power announced a partnership with Allied Green Ammonia (AGA) to develop a new 2GW electrolyser for AGA's sustainable fuel initiative in Uzbekistan. "Plug Power secures new hydrogen supply agreement in US" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plug Power (PLUG) Spikes Up 25.3% on Renewed Hydrogen Supply Contract
Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) is one of the . Plug Power skyrocketed by 25.35 percent on Wednesday to end at $1.78 apiece following news that it deepened its partnership with a long-time US-based industrial gas company for the supply of liquid hydrogen through 2030. In a statement, Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) said that it will continue to receive liquid hydrogen supply from its partner while immediately reducing the cost and collaborating on improved network efficiency. 'This expanded agreement supports our mission to build on our already robust and resilient hydrogen network in the US,' said Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) CEO Andy Marsh. 'As we continue to scale our applications business and build long-term partnerships with customers, reliable supply and cost efficiency are critical.' A generator being fueled and readied for use as part of an end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystem. Plug is ramping up its generation network to ensure a reliable, domestically produced supply, with hydrogen plants currently operational in Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana. For this year alone, the company is looking to launch 40 new sites, anticipating continued growth in the industry in 2026 onwards. While we acknowledge the potential of PLUG as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plug Power secures new hydrogen supply agreement in US
Hydrogen solutions provider Plug Power has secured a new hydrogen supply agreement from a US-based industrial gas partner until 2030. This enhanced multi-year contract ensures reliable hydrogen for Plug's expanding applications business while aiming to reduce costs and improve cash flows. The extension of this partnership supports Plug's strategy to strengthen margins and operational flexibility while catering to customer needs across more than 275 sites that consume hydrogen. With an increasing number of customer sites relying on its services, Plug is committed to broadening its suite of hydrogen solutions. Plug's expansion efforts include enhancing its domestic generation network. Current operations in Georgia, Tennessee and Louisiana yield a combined capacity of 40t per day of liquid hydrogen production. Additional facilities are underway as part of plans to establish more than 40 new sites by 2025 and accommodate further industry growth from 2026 onwards. Plug CEO Andy Marsh stated: 'This expanded agreement supports our mission to build on our already robust and resilient hydrogen network in the US. 'As we continue to scale our applications business and build long-term partnerships with customers, reliable supply and cost efficiency are critical. This contract is a win for Plug, our customers, our suppliers and our margin profile. The immediate cost reduction complements our progress this year with Project Quantum Leap, focused on cost optimisation and cash flow improvement.' This development follows recent US legislation promoting clean energy initiatives for future market expansion. In June 2025, Plug Power announced a partnership with Allied Green Ammonia (AGA) to develop a new 2GW electrolyser for AGA's sustainable fuel initiative in Uzbekistan. "Plug Power secures new hydrogen supply agreement in US" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
