Dutch asked to sniff out illegal cannabis

Dutch households are being sent cannabis 'scratch 'n' sniff' cards.

The cards - which give off the scent of the drug when they are scraped with a fingernail - have been sent to 30,000 addresses, urging people to report their neighbours if they believe they are growing cannabis illegally.

While the drug is legal to buy in small amounts and to smoke in The Netherlands, growing in bulk is a crime and authorities are hoping to weed out some of the estimated 40,000 plantations hidden away in attics, apartments and warehouses in the country.

Arnie Loos, spokesman for a government body tackling the illegal growth of Marijuana said: "Citizens must be alerted to the dangers they face as a result of these plantations, and if they become aware of any suspect situations they must report them."

The green scratch card, measuring 20cm by 10cm reads: "Assist in combatting cannabis plantations," and gives a number for people to call should they suspect anything illegal.

Dutch authorities also explained the plantations are a hazard because they can cause fires or accidents, mainly through the cables and lamps needed to maintain a cultivation temperature of 27C.