UK teen commits suicide after being brought to court over 50p of cannabis

Temaz · 23-02-2013 07:35PM #1

Tragic case.

A 17 Year old Head Boy and England under 19 Lacrosse international who was summoned to court for 50p worth of cannabis – has committed suicide after fearing that it would block his chances of working in America.

Edward Thornber, 17 was on holiday with his friends in Newquay in 2011 when he was stopped by police and found to be in possession of 50p worth of cannabis. For those unaware of just how little this is look at your little finger nail and then think smaller. It was the second time he had been stopped under the same circumstances.

http://norml-uk.org/2013/02/britains-cannabis-policy-more-harmful-than-drug/

23-02-2013 07:37PM

So what do we think? The hash made him do it? Being brought to court made him do it? It was almost entirely irrelevant? Come on, I want to know which way to be outraged.

Witcher · 23-02-2013 07:41PM

has committed suicide after fearing that it would block his chances of working in America

It was the second time he had been stopped under the same circumstances.

Wasn't in fear enough after the first time obviously.

steddyeddy · 23-02-2013 07:42PM

50p worth of hash? I thought police in the UK had to give a warning first?

Edit: either way Its sad that a person that young felt upset enough to do that. This is going to be a strange thing to say but anytime I know my mars are depressed, male or female, i give them a hug. I want them to know people do care.

michael999999 · 23-02-2013 07:43PM

Killing yourself is definately one way of guaranteeing you ain't going to the States!

0ph0rce0 · 23-02-2013 07:44PM

Mmmmm Reminds me i have to smoke that joint, be back later.

Holsten · 23-02-2013 07:45PM

Tragic.

Why the **** did they bother with 50p worth of weed? Why bother with weed at all?! It's inane, police forces need to focus on real crimes not people having plants in their possession.

And I hate the stuff!

My name is URL · 23-02-2013 07:46PM

I'm always a bit weary of this kind of story. Is it just being assumed that's why he killed himself? I mean how unthinkable is it that he may have suffered from depression? Nobody in a healthy state of mind would take their life over such a thing. And it's not something that should be used by groups to further their own agendas.

Roger_007 · 23-02-2013 07:46PM

It's a bit of a jump to conclude that his conviction was the direct cause of his suicide. How does anyone know? He may have been suicidal anyway. I would agree that his conviction was way over the top given how trivial the offence was.

cml387 · 23-02-2013 07:50PM

Using a child's suicide to press for legalisation of the weed is a bit of low, I would have thought.

Fox_In_Socks · 23-02-2013 07:50PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

50p worth of hash? I thought police in the UK had to give a warning first?

Edit: either way Its sad that a person that young felt upset enough to do that. This is going to be a strange thing to say but anytime I know my mars are depressed, male or female, i give them a hug. I want them to know people do care.

That is a strange thing to say.

Death and Taxes · 23-02-2013 07:50PM

Tragic case, a young man is dead, people should remember that before posting crass comments

23-02-2013 07:51PM

My name is URL wrote: »

I'm always a bit weary of this kind of story. Is it just being assumed that's why he killed himself? I mean how unthinkable is it that he may have suffered from depression? Nobody in a healthy state of mind would take their life over such a thing. And it's not something that should be used by groups to further their own agendas.

I know I'd have been absolutely devastated over something like that when I was 17. It would have seemed like the end of the world. I'd have been worried sick about having a criminal record, never getting a job etc. I might well have considered suicide in his position. Seriously bad call to summon him to court for something like that, IMO.

HondaSami · 23-02-2013 07:53PM

Did he leave a suicide note stating this is the reason he killed himself ?

The_Kew_Tour · 23-02-2013 08:18PM

Its all fun and games till it happens on your doorstep I guess.

E.S.T. · 23-02-2013 08:44PM

From that article

They imprison 25% of the world’s prison population, most are in for a drug related offence and the majority of those are for cannabis. They are so strict with their drugs policy that they will not allow anyone into the “land of the free” if they have a criminal record for drugs – including a court summons for 50p worth of cannabis if the court could be bothered to convict him of such a “crime”.

They come up with figures like this by including the people that were convicted of other crimes but also had some weed. The person is really in jail for the other more serious charges but since weed is also part of the charges they try to make it seem like weed is the only reason they are locked up. Same happens where people get arrested for weed and get probation but then screw up on probation. They are labeled as being in jail for weed but really the only reason they are there is because they screwed up probation. Also why would a country give visas to individuals that don't even follow the rules in their home country?

dizzywizlw · 23-02-2013 08:47PM

Head Boy and Lacrosse International takes potential failure so hard he tops himself.

Rich people...

My name is URL · 23-02-2013 08:48PM

Meilani Melodic Scratch wrote: »

I know I'd have been absolutely devastated over something like that when I was 17. It would have seemed like the end of the world. I'd have been worried sick about having a criminal record, never getting a job etc. I might well have considered suicide in his position. Seriously bad call to summon him to court for something like that, IMO.

Yeah, I don't mean it's not possible that it was the reason, I just don't think it's right or wise to assume it to be the case. If you look at the backgrounds of anyone that has committed suicide you'll most likely find something that many people would say was the 'trigger'.

Doing that, or always looking for someone / something else to blame does a disservice to people who may be suicidal and the groups trying to help those people.

donegal_road · 23-02-2013 08:50PM

if it had been in Ireland, the cannabis would have been valued at €10,000

B.A._Baracus · 23-02-2013 08:53PM

What kind of copper would arrest someone for 50p worth (seriously, the size of a grain of rice or something!?)

Scumbag.

dizzywizlw · 23-02-2013 08:55PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

What kind of copper would arrest someone for 50p worth (seriously, the size of a grain of rice or something!?)

Scumbag.

What kind of scumbag carries an illegal substance on their person?

HondaSami · 23-02-2013 08:57PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

What kind of copper would arrest someone for 50p worth (seriously, the size of a grain of rice or something!?)

Scumbag.

So it's the cops fault? some people amaze me, always wanting to blame someone else.
I'm sure the kid involved knew the dangers of getting caught as he was caught before. How many chances should people get?

23-02-2013 08:58PM

HondaSami wrote: »

So it's the cops fault? some people amaze me, always wanting to blame someone else.
I'm sure the kid involved knew the dangers of getting caught as he was caught before. How many chances should people get?

Well the cops did err as it happens.

HondaSami · 23-02-2013 09:01PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Well the cops did err as it happens.

The cop did not kill him, he killed himself. It's easy blame the cops, takes the responsibility from the victim.

tdv123 · 23-02-2013 09:07PM

HondaSami wrote: »

The cop did not kill him, he killed himself. It's easy blame the cops, takes the responsibility from the victim.

How do you know the cop didn't kill him & then made it look like a suicide?

HondaSami · 23-02-2013 09:09PM

tdv123 wrote: »

How do you know the cop didn't kill him & then made it look like a suicide?

Have you actually thought about that before you posted it? how ridiculous it looks?

juice1304 · 23-02-2013 09:09PM

Blay wrote: »

Wasn't in fear enough after the first time obviously.

And why should he be who did he hurt? whos life did it effect other than his? No one.
The laws prohibiting cannabis are ment to protect people how dose sending someone to prison to live with violent criminals help? How dose making it hard to find work help? What help do they provide? None.
Which is the lesser of two evils? Destroying someones life because they "May" develop schizophrenia if they have a genetic predisposition and smoke a large amount as an adolescent or letting them make their own decision to smoke a joint.
I think it is hilarious that people get up on their high horse over here about cannabis when binge drinking is looked upon as fine "sure it's our culture".

B.A._Baracus · 23-02-2013 09:14PM

HondaSami wrote: »

So it's the cops fault? some people amaze me, always wanting to blame someone else.
I'm sure the kid involved knew the dangers of getting caught as he was caught before. How many chances should people get?

Not saying the death is the coppers fault. Just the idea that a policeman/woman would charge someone for such a small amount is wrong IMO. 50p worth after all. And for the record I hate hash. Dont like the stuff.

dizzywizlw wrote: »

What kind of scumbag carries an illegal substance on their person?

Ever hear of "I'll let you away with this on a warning" ???? Police do it all the time. For the little things.

Sure, one of my friends had his keyring corkscrew taken off him by a gardai when he was a teenager. He was randomly stopped. They deemed it to be "potentially used a weapon" but you know what they didnt bloody bring him to the station!! Just the usual whats your name and alright let you off with a warning.

tdv123 · 23-02-2013 09:15PM

HondaSami wrote: »

Have you actually thought about that before you posted it? how ridiculous it looks?

Yes I did
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for about half a second

carrig2 · 23-02-2013 09:15PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

What kind of copper would arrest someone for 50p worth (seriously, the size of a grain of rice or something!?)

Scumbag.

An illegal substance is an illegal substance. End of.
Also it was not the first time.
It is a tragic story but don't blame the police

dizzywizlw · 23-02-2013 09:17PM

juice1304 wrote: »

And why should he be who did he hurt? whos life did it effect other than his? No one.
The laws prohibiting cannabis are ment to protect people how dose sending someone to prison to live with violent criminals help? How dose making it hard to find work help? What help do they provide? None.
Which is the lesser of two evils? Destroying someones life because they "May" develop schizophrenia if they have a genetic predisposition and smoke a large amount as an adolescent or letting them make their own decision to smoke a joint.
I think it is hilarious that people get up on their high horse over here about cannabis when binge drinking is looked upon as fine "sure it's our culture".

Who did Seanie Fitz hurt?
Who do paedos who only look at images hurt?

Hey look at that, obtuse arguments that disregard the law...

UK teen commits suicide after being brought to court over 50p of cannabis

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