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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Cannabis man claims breach of human rights
Fife Herald Friday 31 Oct 2003 A LETHAM man who claims to relieve chronic pain has said the threat of imprisonment won't stop him from growing the plant. Colin Cameron was fined £100 at Cupar Sheriff Court on Monday - and said he is prepared to go to jail unless he can find some way to pay the penalty. Mr Cameron, of School Brae admitted producing 10 (sic) pots of cannabis, but a plea of not guilty to possessing the drug was accepted by the prosecution. He said the threat of imprisonment won't stop him from growing the plant which he uses to control crippling sciatica caused by an old rugby injury to his vertebrae. Mr Cameron, a member of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance and the Scottish Socialist Party, said his case highlights 'huge inconsistencies' in the law and believes it could set a precedent for future court cases. Mr Cameron (57) said: 'How can I be found guilty of growing a plant which I'm not, in the law's eyes, in possession of? This case created a huge puzzle for the sheriff and the procurator fiscal and I think they were both put in a very difficult position. In March, Mr Cameron was admonished by Sheriff George Evans on a similar charge after explaining that he was using the herbwith the knowledge of his doctor as a medical preparation to alleviate the pain of chronic sciatica and relax his muscles. This week, Mr Cameron's solicitor and human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, told the court that nothing had changed in the intervening months other than his client's condition had deteriorated. Mr Anwar said that given the current contradictory state of the law, Mr Cameron and others in similar situations are being faced with "Hobson's Choice". 'Either they break the law and relieve their pain', he said, 'or obey the law and suffer in silence'. Claiming this situation was a clear breach of his human rights, Mr Cameron explained that no-one should have to suffer pain in order to obey the law. He said he also felt Sheriff Evans was 'almost apologetic' when imposing the £100 fine. Mr Cameron added that without the plants, grown for his personal use, he may be forced to buy cannabis from dealers - and break the law further. 'I have been put in an invidious position by the law and because I can't work due to my injury I can't do community service which is the direct alternative to custody', he explained. 'Unless a means enquiry court lets me pay what I can afford, which isn't much, I'll have to go to jail.'
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