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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Cannabis Group In Protest Threat
Sue Restan Press & Journal, Aberdeen
Friday 01 Apr 2005 A Pressure group which wants the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal purposes threatened yesterday to use and supply the drug outside police headquarters in Inverness. The warning came from the group Bud Buddies, which is supporting grandmother Victoria Hodgson, 51, of Clachtoll, Lochinver, who was fined UKP400 earlier this week for possession of cannabis. The group said it would protest at Northern Constabulary's Inverness headquarters if Hodgson is arrested again for using the drug. Bud Buddies said at least 20 people, many of them in wheelchairs, would supply and use cannabis outside the police station. Hodgson claimed she needed cannabis to relieve the pain caused by a chronic back condition and, at Dornoch Sheriff Court, denied possessing the drug, on the grounds of medical necessity. Sheriff David Sutherland refused to accept her defence and convicted her of possession. She was fined for that and for causing a breach of the peace when arrested. But yesterday, Jeff Ditchfield , of Bud Buddies, said the group, which has more than 400 members throughout the UK, was set up to help people suffering from genuine illness by supplying high-quality natural cannabis. It does not charge for the drug, relying solely on donations. Mr Ditchfield, 45, who runs a cannabis medical centre at his Beggars Belief coffee shop in Rhyl, North Wales, has been arrested five times for cannabis-related offences, but claims he has never been convicted. He confirmed yesterday he supplied about 20 ill and disabled people in the Highlands and has told Hodgson he would be happy to risk prosecution by supplying her with the drug. He said: "Northern Constabulary are acting like bully boys and we are not prepared to let them get away with it. "If they arrest Vicky again, or anyone else in a similar situation, then myself and about 20 other people, many of whom are in wheelchairs, will come and use and supply cannabis outside the police station." Mr Ditchfield said he had phoned Northern Constabulary to tell them he intended to supply Hodgson and invited them to arrest him for so doing. He also told them he was already supplying people in the region and said he was told to hand himself in to his local police station. He added: "We feel we cannot sit by and let seriously ill people suffer in pain or have contact with criminal drug dealers to obtain their medicine of choice." But Mr Ditchfield stressed the group supplied the drug, which they grow themselves and supply in capsule, cream or bud form, for medicinal purposes. He is awaiting the outcome of a hearing at the Court of Appeal in London. In January last year, he was found not guilty of supplying cannabis by a jury at Chester Crown Court after he pleaded not guilty on grounds of medical necessity. The Attorney General referred the case to the Court of Appeal for a ruling on whether this defence could be used in relation to the supply of drugs. It had previously only been used in connection with possession. A Northern Constabulary spokeswoman yesterday confirmed she had told Mr Ditchfield that he could go to his local police station and make a statement. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.1 - Release Date: 01/04/2005
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