Hi! Sorry for jumping in.. just seen this and thought I’d put my input in.
I live in the UK too so I have looked endlessly into the laws - the fact is if you get caught with 200 plants they’re going to throw the book at you. It will go to court no doubt about it. No blag of “it was for personal use” will cut it, not with 200. Even if you tried the “I didn’t know how many would survive” route, the fact is they’ll ask why you didn’t plant a lesser amount , and what the need for 200 was.
CPS charge will likely be Production of a controlled Drug/Cultivation of cannabis with intent to supply. You’ll likely land yourself in hot water for that. Even I’d be shitting it. CPS guidelines for sentencing looks at your past record, it also looks at the category of harm and the class of drug.
200 plants = large scale operation capable of producing industrial quantities for commercial use - Category 1 level of harm. They’ll also then look at the culpability demonstrated by offenders roll. You’d play a leading role unless you’ve got anyone else involved. Sentencing guidelines for a leading role category 1 level of harm class b drug starts at 7-10 years. You’ll probably get a lot less if you don’t have tons of equipment to grow, if you’ve got a squeaky clean record, if you’re a good citizen etc Madness I know.
but this is a large scale thing - 200 cuttings is a lot. Play it safe - 20 plants and under really is a slap on the wrist in most cases I’ve read in the UK. It won’t even go to court. Most you’ll get is a caution. I’ve spent countless hours reading about people who have been caught and in all cases small time growers with a few plants walk away with no major consequences and are normally only caught due to snitching neighbours. Police aren’t targeting small time growers. Police are stretched as it is - nobody cares if you’ve got a few plants in your bedroom.. but 200 is a different story.
