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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Campaigner's cannabis battle ends with UKP7,000 legal bill
Daily Post (Wales)
Wednesday 06 Sep 2006 A NORTH Wales drugs campaigner who sent top ministers cannabis plants was yesterday spared jail, but landed with a UKP7,000 legal bill. But Jeff Ditchfield vowed not to pay even if it meant he ended up in prison. He was previously convicted of possessing, cultivating and supplying cannabis in what a judge described as a genuine, but misguided, campaign. Ditchfield claimed his campaign ended when the Home Office allowed doctors to prescribe cannabis-based medicines. Ditchfield said sending cannabis plants through the post to Tony Blair and every member of the cabinet was part of his campaign to change the law to allow people in chronic pain to use cannabis . In July he was convicted of supplying cannabis to two people for pain relief as part of the Bud Buddies organisation. He was also found guilty of cultivating cannabis at the home of an arthritis sufferer at Rhyl, and in a hidden room in his own home, and possessing cannabis leaf found in his fridge. All offences were in 2004 and 2005. He was cleared of possessing the leaf, said by the prosecution to have a street value of UKP12,000, with intent to supply. He was also convicted of attempting to supply Home Secretary John Reid, then defence minister, with a cannabis plant. Ditchfield was previously cleared at Chester Crown Court of similar charges. But the Court Of Appeal later ruled the defence of medical necessity for supplying drugs did not exist in law. There was no shortage of people who wanted to be helped, and Ditchfield's activities meant they got it free and did not have to rely on street dealers. Co-defendant David Newton, 48, of Aber Road in Prestatyn, who is in pain with severe arthritis, admitted cultivating a cannabis plant and possessing cannabis with intent to supply in 2004, and he was given a conditional discharge. His barrister Simon Killeen said Newton grew cannabis to be supplied free to those in pain, including himself, and believed after Ditchfield's acquittal Chester that what he was doing was legal. Yesterday at Mold Crown Court Ditchfield was given a suspended sentence and told to pay UKP7,000 costs. Outside the court Ditchfield said he would not pay up, although he could afford to do so within 28 days as ordered. He added: "I will not pay a penny of the costs to help fund the prohibition of the use of cannabis. "The NHS should have been doing what I was doing. "I have seen so many people, friends in wheelchairs, going to prison for their crimes - and their only crimes are to grow cannabis plants to alleviate their discomfort and pain," he said. "I would pay the costs if someone could identify a victim of my crime." Former transport company boss Ditchfield said he planned to move to his Spanish villa once a court-ordered proceeds of crime investigation ended. Ditchfield, 46, of Water Street, Rhyl, where he runs the Beggar's Belief Cafe, added: "I don't regret doing what I did but the campaign is now over. It is no longer a part of my life. "From 1971 until a recent announcement doctors were unable to use a cannabis-based medication despite all the evidence that it was effective. "All of a sudden that has changed and I think I have played some part in that." The eight month prison sentence was suspended for 18 months, and Ditchfield was ordered to carry out 250 hours unpaid work. No jail... Jeff Ditchfield
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