Cannabis found in councillor’s garden

11:52am Thursday 16th October 2008

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THE Journal of 1933 reported the finding of “a rare plant, Indian hemp” growing in the Worcester Road garden of an Evesham town councillor.

The report said: “Cllr Hiden first noticed the plant in June and it was of rapid growth. ‘A hemp seed must have dropped between the wall of the house and the yard bricks,’ he said. ‘By the end of July, it was over three feet in height and at the end of August it reached a height of over five feet, nine inches.’ “The stem was forced to grow flat between the brick and round the flattened part of the stem it measures four-and-a-half inches.

“So highly developed is this plant that there are eleven fingered leaves on it and its appearance is most handsome.

“It is said that no caterpillars, flies, insects, wasps, bees or any living thing will approach the plant or feed on it. Cllr Hiden said: ‘One thing for certain is that we have not been troubled at my residence with flies or wasps this season. It may be owing to the hemp plant being near the window that they have kept away.’ “We understand that hemp grown in Eastern and tropical countries possesses strong narcotic qualities but these narcotic and intoxicating properties do not usually develop in English grown hemp. We also read that in Turkey the leaves form the basis of a drug called hashish and in India a preparation known as Bhang. Also the Hottentots mix the leaves with their tobacco for smoking.

“No doubt it is the extraordinary summer we have had which has produced this tropical plant to such an enormous size for our country.”