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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Cancer sufferer turned to cannabis
Grimsby Telegraph Tuesday 21 May 2013 William Burton, 68, of Lancaster Avenue, Grimsby, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009 and spent months in chemotherapy which left him depressed and alone. He suffered from extreme sleep deprivation – he was lucky to get a few hours of rest, and when he did, he was plagued by nightmares. Mr Burton heard from friends that cannabis would help and turned to the drug to aid his sleep and lift his mood. But Mr Burton, who was in the Merchant Navy for more than 30 years, is now living on benefits and found it too expensive. Virtually housebound, he started growing it for himself and others with health problems – and to reward the growing number of people he was relying upon. Mr Burton said: "When you spend all that time feeling ill and sleeping after chemotherapy, people soon stop coming round – but you need help because you're ill. "A worse thing was not sleeping so I started smoking it before I went to bed and I could actually get a full night's sleep. "I wasn't making money – I would give it to other people like me who were in need and they would do the same for me." • In focus: the medical use of marijuana In March, police executed a drugs warrant at his house and found around 30 cannabis plants, £1,650 in cash, 219 grams of "skunk" and bags and scales, consistent with drug dealing. Although Mr Burton told the Grimsby Telegraph that the money belonged to a former partner who won the money at bingo. At his trial at Grimsby Crown Court, Edward Bindloss, prosecuting, said that police found messages on his mobile phone from people wanting cannabis. One read: "Have you found any green?" Mr Burton replied: "I never find green, I grow it. Want to try?" However, Richard Butters, in his defence, said: "He was not the dealer of the century – he smoked cannabis for escapism and to help with his aches and pains. "He was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, but medication wasn't working and he took cannabis to help him sleep, improve his mood and soothe the pain." Recorder Euan Duff gave him a six-month suspended sentence, which he will only serve if convicted of another crime in the next 18 months. He said: "Cancer led you into cannabis use and you made the stupid decision to grow it. "You're motivation was not monetary, but to use it for yourself and supply your friends who did jobs for you." Mr Burton now lives with a cholostomy bag after surgery to remove the cancer and has since had the all-clear – but must have regular check-ups. ON THE WEB: Log onto www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk and comment if you or someone you know has used cannabis to help with cancer symptoms. Read more: http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/Cancer-sufferer-turned-cannabis/story-19044269-detail/story.html#ixzz2U0kXfCNM Follow us: @thisisgrimsby on Twitter | thisisgrimsby on Facebook
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