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UK: Cannabis smoking cancer sufferer, Jonathan Yates, 65, walks free from court thanks to 'fabulous judge
Gloucester Citizen Thursday 28 Aug 2014 Jonathan Yates is in remission from his throat cancer, but the damage done through radiation treatment has left him unable to eat solid foods, smell and taste and be in constant pain. The granddad, who has been ill for three years, pleaded guilty to producing the class B drug at his Moorfield Road home in Brockworth. But speaking after the case, he said his second conviction for drug offences in two years, would not stop him smoking the drug for medical reasons. Prosecutor Janine Wood told the court police searched his home on April 9, 2014, where they discovered 36 plants, which could yield a potential £10,040 to £30,240 of the drug. Yates disputes the value of the crop and said it is worth nearer £7,000 and would have given him enough for his three joint a day medication for a year. The keen gardener said now he is faced with getting involved with the “murky world of drug dealers” as he does not want to take morphine. After appearing in court Yates, a part-time landlord’s agent, said he wanted to see British law changed so cannabis could be grown for medical purposes and those with a prescription be free to get it. He said: “I can buy it, but it would cost me about £140 a week. I also don’t want to be involved with dealers – they rip you off and they are not nice people, but I am being forced to because they won’t let me self-medicate. “I don’t smoke during the day, but in the evenings I have two to three joints before I go to bed. “It helps me relax and it improves my quality of life – my life becomes more valuable. “My morphine was funded by the tax payer, but it left me feeling like things were crawling over me and it is very addictive and so I would just never take it again – it was horrible stuff. “But by doing this it makes me a criminal. “Being arrested has not helped me – it has been a real worry.” Judge William Hart said it was likely that Yates would return to the drug, but said it was a very exceptional case. He told him: “You have been suffering with a very serious cancer. You have undergone treatment which has been very unpleasant and distressing and the prognosis is bleak. “I would not be able to live with myself if I sent you to prison. That would express no humanity or compassion at all and it would be a sad day if the courts lost all sense of humanity and compassion.” Yates said he thought Judge Hart was "fabulous" for his understanding. Following the sentence Yates added he would have been thoroughly ashamed of himself had he gone to jail. Yates also pleaded guilty to supplying the drug to his lodger Anthony Young between January 1 and April 8, this year, but said no money ever exchanged hands. He was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge. The court heard it was the same punishment he received for producing the class B drug in July 2012. Defending Joe Maloney said: “This is a man who is very very ill and the only thing that eliminates the pain is the cannabis. “This is a man who is terminally ill and in considerable discomfort and pain. “He is desperately unwell and the law prevents him getting cannabis for medical relief and he knows that is the law he is stuck with.” http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Cannabis-smoking-cancer-sufferer-Jonathan-Yates/story-22843818-detail/story.html
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