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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Three walk free in cannabis chocolate case
Jon Land 24dash.com
Friday 26 Jan 2007 Three people who supplied thousands of chocolate bars laced with cannabis to multiple sclerosis sufferers walked free from court today. Mark Gibson, 42, his wife Lezley, 42, who has multiple sclerosis (MS), and Marcus Davies, 36, were each given a nine-month jail term, suspended for two years. All three defendants argued that the drug eased the symptoms of MS and believed they had a defence of medical necessity but this was rejected by a jury last month. Sentencing today at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge John Phillips said he accepted their motives were "altruistic", that they had a genuine desire to help people who were suffering and that no profit was made from the operation. Outside court, Mrs Gibson said she was "very disappointed" at the judge's ruling. She said: "I was devastated when we were found guilty and this decision has broken me again. "I still don't think I've done anything wrong. How can it be wrong to try and help ill people? What kind of Government lets people suffer in this way? "The people that used to use our service are now forced to go to the street dealers and buy contaminated cannabis." The Gibsons added that they were planning to launch an appeal against their conviction. Cumbria's Chief Crown Prosecutor, Claire Lindley, said none of the defendants was medically qualified and the manner in which the cannabis was sent through the post meant they could not control who ultimately consumed the cannabis-laced chocolate. "In most instances the defendants did not know the medical circumstances of the individuals who received the drugs," she said. "The investigation showed this enterprise to be a commercial one, with payment being received for the majority of transactions. "The police sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service before any charge was brought against any of the defendants. "The then Chief Crown Prosecutor, David Farmer, considered all the evidence and concluded that there was sufficient evidence to proceed and that the public interest required a prosecution in this case." http://www.24dash.com/health/15776.htm
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