That's not much of a solution though because not everyone can grow. Kids who live at home want to get high too, and most of the time they cannot grow. God knows that was the case for me. This problem is much larger than the UK anyway.

Education is the answer. It's so stupid that governments and police are causing more harm than good trying to "help", and spreading lies and unfounded fear about cannabis on top of that. Before even taking real steps in the right direction all the misinformation has to be debunked and people need to be properly educated on the subject of drugs and the pointless (harmful even) war against them. The hard part is educating the people who have the power to make the necessary changes.

Penn & Teller's episode of Bullshit! about the war on drugs was pretty good, but it also shows how hopelessly brainwashed some older folks are on this subject. Many people think that cannabis is a drug in the same class as cocaine, mdma, etc. To them drugs are drugs because that is what they were taught. The government makes bad things illegal so drugs/substances that are illegal must be bad. It's so sad that these views are deeply ingrained in people's minds to the point where they won't listen to anything that goes against it.

I have to admit that it seems a futile battle to fight sometimes. Have you ever tried to teach someone 10-20 years older than you that something that is (almost) internationally accepted as truth and something they've "known" their whole lives is all a lie? Shit... people are taught these things from the time they can talk in a lot of western countries. Drugs are evil, and they think if you say anything contrary you're just high and talking crazy.

Here's a vivid convo I remember with my grandma 10 years ago.

Grandma: "Have you tried drugs?" (note: heroin and pot are in the same group to her)
Me: "Yes."
G: "Did you like it?"
M: "Sure, it was fun."
G: "Oh then something's wrong! You must be addicted!" ... (very worried sounding)

She thought I was a junkie or something because I had smoked pot a couple times when I was 14 and I had fun doing it. Religion is a big part of the problem (with her and in general).

Thanks Abattoir for educating people here about the REAL dangers involved in smoking pot off the street. I have never seen that black mold but now I know what it looks like and can tell/show my friends as well.