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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: MS cannabis user's fury at new charge Claire Tolley The Daily Post (Liverpool) Wednesday 17 Apr 2002 A MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer who was fined £25 for cannabis possession after a trial costing £10,000 was last night heading back to Crown Court. Robert Gartside yesterday indicated he would plead not guilty before Liverpool magistrates to a second offence of possession of the Class B drug. Mr Gartside, 34, said he would exercise his right to a jury trial to highlight the "ridiculous" laws concerning cannabis possession - meaning thousands of pounds will be spent prosecuting him again. Last night, after the hearing by Liverpool magistrates, he said: "I have been using for 10 years on medicinal grounds, and I am going to continue to use it because it's obviously working. "I have been told from some people involved in the clinical trials being run by the Government that cannabis is doing wonders for the symptoms of MS. "The arrest doesn't make sense because the police are screaming in the Press that they don't have enough resources to fight crime and yet I was arrested by three police officers in a van, even though I am disabled and have no history of violence. "I realise opting for jury trial will cost money but by arresting me and choosing to prosecute me this is already costing a lot of public money for no point. "I am choosing jury trial because I believe I have more chance of having a fair hearing and am confident I will be acquitted." At yesterday's hearing he was granted unconditional bail and the case was adjourned until June. Officers allegedly discovered two blocks of cannabis resin when they searched him after stopping his car on Aigburth Road, Aigburth, south Liverpool, near to his home. Police had a warrant for his arrest relating to a charge of possession of the drug dating back to last year. Mr Gartside, who lives in Aigburth Road, was held in cells at Wavertree Road police station over Monday night. Some campaigners for a change in the law on cannabis believe police time could be better spent than arresting people who use the drug for medicinal use. Two months ago, Mr Gartside was fined only £25 and given a conditional discharge by a Judge after being found guilty of cannabis possession by a Liverpool Crown Court jury. Campaigner Chris Davies MEP said: "I think the people of Merseyside all want to know why it's appropriate to prosecute an ill man instead of using valuable resources and police time to go and catch drunken thugs, violent criminals and muggers." Clinical trials are currently being conducted by the Government to test the effectiveness of cannabis sprays on the symptoms suffered by people with MS. Last month, an official report by the Government's medical advisors paved the way for the reclassification of cannabis to a Class C drug, saying it posed smaller health risks than other Class B drugs. But last night a spokeswoman for Merseyside Police defended the arrest. She said: "Robert Gartside was arrested and charged as a result of a warrant issued by Liverpool City Magistrates after he breached his bail conditions. "The focus of Merseyside Police in respect of drug matters is on the activity of suppliers, importers and dealers in drugs. " Possession of cannabis remains an offence and the police officers who encounter such offences will continue to act in accordance with their duty to uphold the law and arrest those who commit such offences. "Until such time as the Government and the courts complete their review of the law in relation to cannabis, which may result in a change in legislation, our responsibility and our duty will remain unchanged."
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