Nelson couple who grew cannabis for arthritis spared jail

I am sure that the Misuse of Drugs Act was not really meant to stop people growing a few cannabis plants at home to ease the symptoms of some terrible ailments and pains, including arthritis - and to the person who simply regards the users as liars and junkies - wake up, you are a fool to believe the Government and big Pharmaceutical companies that are ripping you off blind. By all means take their expensive pills with their risks of side-effects but there remains no reason to punish medicinal cannabis plant users that have done no harm to others. the law (injustice) needs to be changed immediately.

These people were not "spared jail" - they were given suspended sentences which one day they may serve if caught again - it puts them in an unenviable and cruel position of having to choose between pain and less effective pharmaceutical pain-killers with side-effects, or prison.

Nelson couple who grew cannabis for arthritis spared jail
Lancashire Telegraph, August 26 2011

A COUPLE from Nelson who grew cannabis to treat the effects of arthritis have been spared jail by a crown court judge.
Police raided the Sansbury Crescent home of Jacqueline Yorke and Kenneth Laird last December, Burnley Crown Court heard.
And when officers arrived, Yorke immediately started to cry and told them about the cannabis plants growing in her back bedroom.
Police found a sophisticated set-up in the spare room, with lighting equipment, fans and reflective panels erected.
Yorke said she suffered arthritis in her hip and had found the drug eased the condition.
Yorke and Laird, both aged 45, admitted producing cannabis.
Laird was given a six-month prison sentence and Yorke four months, each suspended for 18 months. Each must pay £200 court costs.
Laird must carry out 120 hours community service and Yorke 100 hours.

Man grew cannabis to ease his back pain: The Advertiser: August 9 2011

What a SHAME on UK Justice that this man has been dragged through Magistrates' and Crown Court and punished with a conditional discharge - for doing nothing more than growing cannabis to ease his pain and replace the prescribed diamorphine (heroin) that he says was not efficient.

I do not for one minute believe that the Misuse of Drugs Act was meant to stop people from growing plants that ease suffering or improve health - and certainly as there was no victim to his so-called "offence" he does not deserve punishment.

NO, the court does not deserve the congratulations that one reader writes here. A "conditional discharge" for three years - that means that if he grows again and gets court, he may be punished more severely and even sent to prison.

AND if he resorts again to prescribed diamorphine, one thing is sure - he will become addicted to it.

It is time that the police and courts stopped using the law against people in dire need of the pain-relieving and other beneficial properties of this remarkable plant, cannabis.

Above in response to:
Man grew cannabis to ease his back pain: The Advertiser: August 9 2011 By Daniel Howlett

A MAN suffering from a degenerative spinal condition was spared jail yesterday for growing cannabis to relieve his pain.
Stephen Tull, 59, was given a three-year conditional discharge at Teesside Crown Court after he admitted growing cannabis plants.
Richard Wilson, prosecuting, said that on May 12, police went to search another property in the street in Darlington where Tull lived.
Mr Wilson said: “When they arrived, they found the defendant outside of his property.
He ushered them in, telling the officers that he knew why they were there.
“When officers went upstairs they found a relatively professional set-up with 24 cannabis plants growing. He immediately admitted being a user of the drug and told police that it helped with his condition.”
Tull appeared at Darlington Magistrates’ Court on July 5, but magistrates felt their sentencing powers were not sufficient and sent the case to crown court.
Brian Russell, in mitigation, said: “He was in receipt of around £800 per month in benefits and used to spend around £200 per month on marijuana, which he found to be a much more effective painkiller then the diamorphine he is prescribed.
“He decided to save the money and spent around £1,500 setting up the cannabis farm, which he knew would save him money in the long term.
“He will not be growing cannabis again, but I think it is clear from the pre-sentence report that he will continue to use it into the future.”
Judge George Moorhouse said: “You have pleaded guilty to a very serious charge.
“However, you are suffering from a degenerative spinal condition and, by taking cannabis, your position was made more comfortable.”
He ordered that the cannabis and growing equipment be destroyed.
Speaking outside the court, Tull, who lives in the South Park area of Darlington, said: “I would just like to thank everybody for their kind support throughout this process.
“Me and my partner are both just really glad this whole thing is over. We can now put it behind us and get on with our lives.
“The three-year conditional discharge was a little more than I was expecting, but I will be keeping my nose clean, so it does not really matter.”

Brighton man grew cannabis "to ease his depression"

The argument on whether or not cannabis helps with or worsens depression is not the real issue here is it?  The issue is whether or not the accused has harmed anyone else and whether or not he should be punished?

In my opinion, if this man has not done harm, then he doesn't deserve any punishment.

comment on:

Brighton man grew cannabis "to ease his depression", The Argus, August 7 2011

A former probation worker grew cannabis to help ease his depression, a court was told.
Timothy Parry, 44, set up a small cannabis factory in the basement of a house in Dyke Road, Brighton.
He disguised the entrance by putting up a wooden structure around it.
Police found up to 30 plants growing there when they raided the building on March 24.
A hydroponics growing system and a calendar detailing when the crop would be ready to harvest was found inside.
Police discovered documents with Parry’s details on, and took away a cigarette end, beer cans and a coffee cup for analysis.
Bridget Norfolk, prosecuting, said forensic tests confirmed the father-of-three’s DNA was on the items seized.
Police also found more than an ounce of cannabis in a safe at Parry’s home in Windmill Street, Brighton.
He pleaded guilty to cultivating and possessing cannabis for his own use during a hearing at Brighton Magistrates Court.
The court was told Parry had smoked cannabis for 15 years to relax and ease his depression.
He will be sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on a date to be fixed.