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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Arthritic man grew own cannabis
Leicester Mercury
Saturday 03 Sep 2005 A man who grew cannabis in his basement has escaped being sent to prison after the court heard he suffered from severe arthritis. James Butler, who rented the former Sanvey Gate Tavern in Leicester, was arrested by police when they found 167 cannabis plants at the property. Butler, of Mulberry Avenue, Glenfield, pleaded guilty to possessing the plants for his own personal use. The court heard how police had raided the premises where Butler was then living for other reasons. However, while on the premises they had smelt the cannabis, and further investigation found specialist equipment and 167 plants. Forensics suggested it was a relatively new operation and they were young plants. William Redgrave, defending, said Butler was growing it for medical use. He produced a letter from a GP confirming that Butler suffered from arthritis. Mr Redgrave said: "He had an occasional flare-up of arthritis and he got into cultivating the cannabis because it was a cheap way of getting it." Recorder Andrew Maw told Butler he was lucky not to be sent to jail, and that the maximum sentence for such an offence was 14 years. Giving Butler a four-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, Recorder Maw said: "Parliament has accepted this as a very serious matter, although I have taken into account your serious and debilitating condition." He said he had also taken into account Butler's early guilty plea.
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