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UK: Cannabis charges cleared

Nick Ellis

Abergele Visitor, Wales

Wednesday 21 Jan 2004

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THE owner of a shop which sells cannabis paraphernalia has been cleared of
possessing the drug with intent to supply.

Jeff Ditchfield, of Water Street, Rhyl was found not guilty of possession
and intent to supply the drug at Chester Crown Court on Thursday of last week.

The court heard how Mr Ditchfield gave the drug to people for medicinal
reasons and described his shop as a "medicinal cannabis centre".

The jury returned after just 45 minutes to deliver their unanimous verdict
and supporters of Mr Ditchfield cheered the decision from the public gallery.

But Judge Elgan Edwards warned Mr Ditchfield he could face prosecution if
he continued.

"You are not to take this as approval for what you are doing," he said.

"I know you hold sincere views, but if you do the same again, you are
liable to be prosecuted again and you may not be acquitted next time.

"If you do this, you arerunning the risk of further prosecution."

North Wales Police arrested Mr Ditchfield in September of last year after
cannabis was found in his car within minutes of him opening his shop, The
Beggars Belief.

"Jeffrey Ditchfield was found not guilty by a jury of his peers and we
accept the court's verdict," added a police spokesperson.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), who brought the case against Mr
Ditchfield, plans not to appeal.

Mr Ditchfield told the Visitor on Monday he was pleased the verdict would
become a legal precedent.

"It was Martin Luther King Junior who said it was the duty of every citizen
to disobey an unjust law and I adhere to this," he said.

"The case cost over UKP100,000 for just UKP50 worth of cannabis but it was
worth every penny because it set a legal precedent which can be used as a
defence in future court cases by sick people who use cannabis to
self-medicate."

Mr Ditchfield owned a successful transport business until 2000 when he
retired to campaign for the prescription of cannabis as a medicine.

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