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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Minister welcomes jury's decision on cannabis use
Isle Of Man Online
Tuesday 20 Nov 2001 A LANDMARK court decision to acquit a man who uses cannabis on medical grounds should prompt police to concentrate their efforts on heroin abuse, according to Home Affairs Minister Allan Bell. Paul Whitehead, 48, was found not guilty of cultivating cannabis, possession of cannabis resin and possession of cannabis bush atthe Court of General Gaol Delivery on the grounds of medical necessity. He deliberately flouted the law, had around 15 grammes of cannabis bush and resin at his home at Rencell Hill, Laxey, and 127 cannabis plants growing in his garden on June 4 last year. At trial he didn't deny the drugs were his but claimed he needed them to ease the pain for his degenerative illness. The married father-of-two has vowed to carry on using cannabis. His acquittal comes at a time the UK Government is planning to soften laws on cannabis possession and use ahead of what some see as the inevitable decriminalisation. Mr Bell hopes the court's decision will allow the police to concentrate their efforts on clamping down on the use of harder drugs. He said: 'Clearly the police will have to be aware of this decision, along with the Attorney General, when future prosecutions are considered. 'I welcome this clarification which the jury has given. I would expect in future that police time would not be spent on pursuing individuals who have recognised medical problems and feel they are going to benefit from the use of cannabis. 'I have always believed police resources should be directed at the drugs which are causing serious damage to our community, in particular heroin.' Mr Whitehead, who also has a pacemaker for a heart condition, told his six-day trial he wouldn;t risk trying conventional drugs because he was concerned about the effects they would have. The seven-man jury took over five hours to come to its decision to acquit Mr Whitehead. Mr Bell said: 'It was a very interesting conclusion the jury reached bearing in mind the wider debate on cannabis and it could turn out to be a landmark decision in terms of the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes. 'This is something I personally feel we should support and encourage.' Mr Bell believes this could have repercussions politically, particularly as a private member's bill put forward by Onchan MHK Peter Karran to legalise cannabis on medical grounds was not rejected by the House of Keys but held over for consideration by the new house. 'This is the first time a decision like this has been made in the Island and I am sure it will be noted by government bearing in mind the private members bill wasn t rejected,' he said. 'This decision along with the discussions on re-classification in the UK will influence the thinking of the new house. Mr Bell says the jury's decision demonstrates the general change of feeling among the public on the cannabis issue. He said: 'It is quite clear the jury is reflecting current public opinion which, I believe, is moving strongly in favour of the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes. 'A recent survey in the UK showed overwhelming support for this view. But Chief Minister Donald Gelling and Health Minister Clare Christian are more cautious. Mrs Christian said: 'My department is awaiting the results of trials in the UK. These will endeavour to find an appropriate way of using cannabis for medical use, such as sprays. 'It s acknowledged that smoking cannabis brings other hazards. 'But the initial results are that in the right formula cannabis could be acceptable and beneficial.' Mr Gelling, who is on the drug and alcohol strategy committee, is less convinced by cannabis s benefits. He said: 'As far as I'm concerned it's a drug which I have the same thoughts on as other illegal substances. 'I'm not convinced it should be decriminalised or re-classified and we should await the trials first.'
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