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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Terminally ill pensioner arrested for growing cannabis plants in his garage
ITV News Saturday 08 Feb 2020 Philip Antony Bevington, who goes by Tony, began growing the plants for medical reasons, when he was diagnosed with stage three kidney failure two years ago, an incurable and terminal condition. Having tried legally available cannabis oil and found them not to work, Tony decided to grow his own plants and extract the CBD and THC compounds from the oils himself. The 80-year-old believes that these could prolong his life by ten years. But, following a visit in January by Devon and Cornwall Police, Tony's plants have all been confiscated. The public-school educated pensioner used to smoke cannabis when he was younger and believes it relieves pain and balances out his body. Tony, who lives in Camborne, now believes that the drug should be legalised, given there are 1.5m active users of medical cannabis across the UK. Alcohol and tobacco, which are perfectly legal drugs, are far more harmful to people's health than cannabis. But they are both taxed by government. There is such hypocrisy about it. That's why I don't have much qualms about breaking the law. For me this is the most moral and ethical route to take. – Tony Bevington Faced with the possibility of of dialysis for the rest of his life, Tony believes that growing cannabis is an obvious choice, even though it is against the law. To those who say that cannabis is an illegal drug, I say is it better to be illegally alive or legally dead? I've grown my own medicine to save my life. There are far more harmful drugs in Camborne to deal with than both an old man who's dying anyway. I accept that I'm doing something that most people would not do. But I do enjoy life and this is medicine that helps me do that. – Tony Bevington But Tony now faces prison if he is found to grow more cannabis, having been visited by the police twice. Whilst Devon and Cornwall Police cautioned Tony in November 2019, when they returned in January, Tony says they were "quite aggressive and told me that if they had to be called out to my house again they'd come at 3am and smash my door down." For now, the Camborne pensioner will rely on friends who grow cannabis, but he hopes for a change in the law in his lifetime. I know I am breaking the law but the law as it stands is an ass. I don't deal drugs. I Have been very open about it and when police officers came to my house and asked me if I grew cannabis, I admitted it and led them straight to it. I don't even fiddle the electrics like drug dealers do. It was all above board. – Tony Beverington Tony worked as a farmer for twenty years, but left England for Botswana after his first wife died, leaving him and two children. He then moved to Papua New Guinea where he worked as a VSO volunteer on government-funded projects, building farms for local communities. There, he met his second wife and had two children who now live with him in Camborne. It was two years ago that Tony was diagnosed and begun his quest for pain relief. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that they had visited Tony Bevington's house twice since November 2019. During the two visits made by officers in November and January around 60 plants, believed to be cannabis, were seized. Police officers carry out their duties following the law which states that it is a criminal offence to possess, cultivate or supply drugs and as such we will take appropriate action. While we understand that the legalisation of drugs for medical reasons continues to be subject of many discussions nationally, it is a matter for the Government, not police. At this time three people remain under investigation for a range of drug related offences, therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time. – Spokesperson, Devon and Cornwall Police https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2020-02-07/terminally-ill-pensioner-arrested-for-growing-cannabis-plants-in-his-garage/
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