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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Milton Keynes Rastafarian has sentence for growing cannabis cut because he uses it for pain relief Scott Kirk MK Web Tuesday 05 Nov 2013 Caleb John-Lewis, 47, received a total 12-month sentence at Aylesbury Crown Court in August after he admitted producing home-grown cannabis. He was also convicted of possessing the drug with intent to supply in relation to a three-quarter-kilo haul of “Skunk”. John-Lewis, of Heywood Gate, was prosecuted after police discovered a cluster of cannabis “seedlings” in his living room, plus hydroponic lighting equipment designed to help nurture the plants. “He is a Rastafarian who explained at the time of his trial that he saw smoking cannabis as a sacrament,” Mr Justice Silber told London’s Appeal Court. There was no evidence of dealing or commercial gain, added the judge, while John-Lewis said he also needed to use cannabis to cope with a range of chronic health problems, including sickle cell anaemia, severe diabetes and a heart condition. His case reached the Appeal Court as John-Lewis’ legal team challenged his jail term - which was slashed to eight months. His barrister, Michelle Harris, argued that he should have received a community sentence for the cannabis production count as “he sees cannabis as a sacrament and has a serious medical condition”. After a brief hearing, Mr Justice Silber, sitting with Lady Justice Macur and Judge Francis Gilbert QC, decided to reduce the sentence. He concluded that John-Lewis’ original term was “manifestly excessive” and cut it by a third. http://www.mkweb.co.uk/News/Milton-Keynes-Rastafarian-has-sentence-for-growing-cannabis-cut-because-he-uses-it-for-pain-relief-20131104090000.htm
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