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Compassionate Judge sends "Honest and Sincere" to jail
Don Barnard Press Release
Sunday 11 Jan 2004 Legalise Cannabis Alliance, News Bulletin: Compassionate Judge sends "Honest and Sincere" to jail. On Friday 9 January at Chichester Crown Court. With considerable reluctance, Judge Sessions sends a severely disabled pro-cannabis campaigner to jail for six months for running a Dutch-style coffee shop in Worthing. Judge Sessions said, he accepted there was NO monetary motivation but political campaigning but said he had no alternative to a custodial sentence Chris Baldwin, 53, [one of the UK's leading campaigners for the medicinal use/legalisation of cannabis admitted permitting premises to be used for the supply of cannabis, allowing cannabis to be used at a property, possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession of cannabis. - He also admitted being in breach of an 18 month suspended sentence. Two Co-Defendants also pleaded guilty: Winston Matthews, 47, from Horley, admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply, 2 counts of supplying cannabis, [to undercover police officer at the cafe] and possession and cultivation of cannabis. Mark Benson, 37, of Lancing, who worked at the Bongchuffa shop, pleaded guilty to permitting cannabis to be used in the premises and cultivating cannabis plants. Summing up, Judge Sessions said, he accepted there was NO monetary motivation but political campaigning. He also said he accepted the veracity of the statements made in mitigation that all three were in genuine medical need had genuine pain relief from cannabis. That they were all medical users and that they will probably continue to be. He sentenced Mathews to 4 x 4 months conditional discharge for the following offences. Possession of 1/4 kilo of herbal cannabis with intent to supply. Possession of 1/4 kilo of hash with intent to supply. And two counts of selling =A310 deals to undercover police in Buddies coffee shop Worthing. -= No penalty was imposed for possession offences Mark Benson: was sentenced to 6 months of 12 hours curfew, for being involved with the running of the coffee shop. - No penalty was imposed for possession offence. Judge Sessions - Before passing a sentence 6 months imprisonment, on Chris Baldwin. described him 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. Former Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent, Edward Ellison, who served in the drug squad for seven years gave Chris a character reference. Edward Ellison ellison@leap.cc 01237 425047 Law Enforcement against prohibition www.leap.cc HOWEVER, Judge Sessions said because Mr Baldwin had breached a suspended sentence order he had no alternative but to put him into custody to do otherwise would make a mockery of the law. Mr Sessions 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." Judge Session reduced the 18-month suspended sentence to one of 6 months. And sentenced Chris Baldwin to 3 x 6 month sentences to run concurrent for; permitting premises to be used for the supply of cannabis, allowing cannabis to be used at a property, possession with intent to supply - NO penalty was imposed for cannabis and possession of cannabis charges Chris Baldwin was told he would not have to serve more than 3 months. Legalise Cannabis Alliance National Coordinator Alun Buffry said: " Obviously we are very sad that Chris will be away from us for up to 3 months, but in the light of the 15 month suspended sentence this isn't too bad. "I feel that this result is probably better than many of us expected and certainly less than Chris would have expected when he started his clean cannabis cafe venture in Worthing. It could have been worse, so we are kind of relieved and thankful..."DESPITE Chris's incarceration this is a tremendous step forward in reduction in sentencing for medical and recreational supply and cultivation for personal use. Contact for Mr Buffry 01603 442215 Press Office Legalise Cannabis Alliance PO Box 198, Norwich, NR3 3WB http://www.lca-uk.org donbarnard@lca-uk.org Tel: 07984 255015 Editors notes: Baldwin suffers from spastic paraplegia since the age of seven. and used marijuana to alleviate his leg spasms. Chris Stood for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) in the 1997 General Election, January 11 2004
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