PRO-CANNABIS
TRADER JAILED
Source:
The Argus, Worthing, UK
Pub
Date: Saturday, 10 January 2004
Subj: Pro-Cannabis Trader Jailed
URL: http://www.thisisworthing.co.uk
Ref: http://www.ccguide.org.uk/cannabiscafes.php
Cited:
Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org/
Eddie Ellison http://eddie.gn.apc.org/
Comments:
The judge also described Chris Baldwin as an honest and sincere man with
genuine beliefs and medical needs. He
also commended him for the way in which the cafe was run. He also accepted the veracity of the statements
made in mitigation: that all three were in genuine medical need and had genuine
pain relief from cannabis and that their motive were not profit but political
campaigning. The 6-month sentences were
all to run concurrent with the serving of a 6 month sentence reduced from a
previous 18-month suspended sentence and Chris Baldwin was told he would not
serve more than 3 months. DESPITE
Chris's incarceration this is a tremendous step forward in reduction in
sentencing for medical and recreational supply.
PRO-CANNABIS
TRADER JAILED
A
disabled pro-cannabis campaigner has been jailed for six months after opening a
Dutch-style coffee shop.
Protestors
wept and shouted:"You're sending a cripple to jail" when Chris
Baldwin, 53, of Carnegie Close, Worthing, was imprisoned for his involvement in
the notorious Quantum Leaf cafe in Rowlands Road, Worthing.
Police
had to clear Chichester Crown Court when some of the 30-strong group refused to
leave the public gallery.
During
a series of police raids in November 2002, officers stormed the cafe, set in a back
room of a smoking accessory shop called Bongchuffa. Officers found and estimated £2000 worth of cannabis plus more
than £4000 in cash.
At
yesterday's hearing, Judge John Sessions accepted Baldwin has opened the cafe
as a political statement to encourage the Government to legalise the soon-to-be
reclassified class B drug, and to provide free cannabis or people with painful
health conditions.
Peter
Woodall, in mitigation, said further cannabis possession offences were due to
Baldwin suffering from spastic paraplegia since the age of seven.
The
campaigner, who stood for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) in the 1997
General Election, used marijuana to alleviate his consequent leg spasms.
Former
Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent, Edward Ellison, who served
in the drug squad for seven years and had met Baldwin at LCA marches, spoke as
a character witness.
However,
the judge said ignoring Baldwin's two previous suspended sentences for other
drug offences would make a "mockery of the law".
He
said," With considerable reluctance, I have no alternative to a custodial
sentence, which I have reduced to take into account the impending
reclassification of sentencing."
Baldwin
had pleaded guilty to allowing cannabis to be used at a property, possession
with intent to supply cannabis and possession of cannabis.
Before
the hearing, he said," I'd written hundreds of letters to the Home Office,
went to every pro cannabis rally, march and meeting, and lobbied
Parliament. I felt a coffee shop was at
the sharp end of the political campaign."
Mark
Benson, 37, of Irene Avenue, Lancing, who worked at the Bongchuffa shop,
pleaded guilty to permitting cannabis to be used in the premises and
cultivating cannabis plants. He was
given a four month curfew order.
Winston Matthews, 47, of
Court Lodge Road, Horley, was given a suspended four month jail term after he
admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply, supplying cannabis,
possession and cultivation of cannabis.