UK Medical Marijuana Grower
Acquitted By Jury –
Life A "Living hell" With Conventional Pharmaceuticals
(Marijuananews note: This is not the first time
that this has happened, but when juries refuse to convict, historically, British
governments change the law.) See
Operator of First UK
Medical Cannabis Co-op Arrested;
Client In Wheelchair With MS Says "I challenge the police to come and charge
me."
and
UK Jury
Acquits Man For Growing "Medicinal Cannabis;" More Pressure On Government,
Reports London Times
From The BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/default.htm
July 22, 1999
Medicinal cannabis grower acquitted
A man who grew cannabis to relieve his pain from spinal injuries
has been acquitted of cultivating and possessing the drug with intent to supply.
Colin Davies, 42, was acquitted by a jury at Manchester Crown Court after a three-day
trial despite admitting in court that he had set up a co-operative to help fellow pain
sufferers by providing them with cannabis.
Supporters of Mr Davies, of Stockport, Greater Manchester burst
into applause in court as the verdict was announced.
Mr Davies, a unemployed joiner, admitted starting to taking cannabis three years ago
after suffering from the side effects of conventional drugs.
But he pleaded not guilty to cultivating and possessing cannabis in his flat with
intent to supply.
Mr Davies claimed that he was forced to use it out of medical necessity and supplied it
to two sufferers of multiple sclerosis for the same reason.
‘Living hell’
The jury was told that Mr Davies was going through a "living hell" with the
pain he suffered from his injuries sustained in a fall five years ago.
His counsel Richard Orme said in his closing speech: "This case is not whether you
are for or against recreational cannabis-taking.
"It is about the treatment of sick, seriously ill or dying
people. Mr Davies’ reality is his living hell. You cannot imagine what he is going
through."
But Howard Baisden, prosecuting, told the jury: "This case is about a breach of
the law as it stands in this country at the moment. There is no defence because Mr Davies
did cultivate cannabis and did supply it."
Mr Davies was arrested in November last year after police raided his flat and found 26
cannabis plants being grown with specialist equipment.
The raid came only five days after Home Secretary Jack Straw rejected the
recommendations of a House of Lords select committee that the use of cannabis should be
allowed for medical reasons.
The British Medical Association has urged the courts and police
to be aware of the beneficial effects of the drug when considering prosecutions until
research trials are completed.
See
Manchester
Guardian Editorial Supports Lords’ Call For Medical Marijuana;
Mocks British Medical Association’s Rejection
and
British
Medical Association Calls For Decriminalizing Medical Marijuana, But Wallows in Reefer
Madness
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Supported