UK: Editorial: Is This Really Justice?

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Friday 23 Mar 2001

Pubdate: Thu, 22 Mar 2001
Source: Manchester Evening News (UK)
Copyright: 2001 Manchester Evening News
Website: www.manchesteronline.co.uk
Address: 164 Deansgate, Manchester M60 2RD, England
Contact: Fax: 0161 839 0968

IS THIS REALLY JUSTICE?

While we applaud the use of police resources in today's swoops in Beswick,
the Greater Manchester force seems to be shooting itself in the foot in its
pursuit of Paul Roddy, who admits using cannabis to alleviate the pain of
his multiple sclerosis.

Before the jury that acquitted him of possessing just ?15 of cannabis even
had time to leave the Manchester Crown Court courtroom yesterday, he was
re-arrested for a similar offence and spent the night in a cell.

This on the day that a House of Lords select committee recommended that
people who take cannabis to ease the symptoms of debilitating conditions
like MS should not live in fear of prosecution.

This is not a question of whether cannabis should be legalised - it is a
question of severity of offence.

The police do themselves no favours in the eyes of the public by spending
so much court time and money pursuing trivial matters.

It also emerged yesterday that three members of the pop band SClub7 had
escaped with cautions for cannabis possession. Surely GMP don't think Mr
Roddy sets a worse example to Britain's teens?
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MAP posted-by: Beth

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