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UK: Man grew cannabis to help his whiplash

Sol Buckner

The Express and Star

Saturday 23 Aug 2003

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An electrical engineer admitted growing more than £1,000 worth of
cannabis which he had intended to take to help ease neck pain caused by a
whiplash injury.

When police raided Philip Dobson's house in Ashfield Crescent, Wollescote,
they discovered 11 plants and 22 cuttings in the loft. They also discovered
special equipment, lights and fans used to cultivate cannabis. The
38-year-old pleaded guilty to possessing and producing a controlled drug
when he appeared before Halesowen Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Police were called to the house at midday on August 12 after a tip off from
neighbours, who suspected Dobson of cultivating the drug.

They smashed down his front door during a dawn swoop and carried out a full
search of the property.

Prosecuting solicitor Mrs Karen Hackett said: "When police raided the house
they found cannabis in the loft, herbal cannabis in a biscuit tin and two
plastic bags worth in the lounge.

"During police interview Mr Dobson said he had been growing cannabis for 18
months. He said he did not sell it and it was for his own use.

"He estimated the value to be £320."

Defending, Mr Chris Gibbons said his client used cannabis to help relieve
the pain from his whiplash injury.

The court case was brought in a week in which the Government announced that
cannabis was to be used for pain relief in hospitals as part of a trial.
Walsall Manor Hospital is among those taking part.

Mr Gibbons said: "Bizarrely it is not an offence to buy the cannabis seeds.

"But the moment you add water to them and they start to germinate you are
committing an offence.

"In 1998, Mr Dobson suffered a whiplash injury and he finds the cannabis
helps to alleviate the pain.

"He was not prepared to go out into the street and buy it from a drug dealer.

"He felt it was not morally right to put money into the drug-dealing system."

Magistrates handed Dobson a 12 month community rehabilitation order and
ordered he pay £118 costs.

 

 

 

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