Buzzby

Man Used Cannabis as Medicine
author | CheshireOnline | 11/25/2004

A MAN who used his disability allowance to buy cannabis as a pain-killer has escaped jail for supplying the drug to friends.

Paul Andrew Heighton, 37, was found to be in possession of 39oz of cannabis resin, valued at more than £1,000, and more than £600 in cash when his home on Ashton Drive, Frodsham, was searched on October 18.

(BuzzNote: That's almost two and a half pounds of hash in American!)

Heighton has used a wheelchair since he was incapacitated in an accident at work several years ago.

He told Chester Crown Court he used to spend his monthly disability allowance of £240 to buy a 9oz block of cannabis to relieve the pain after doctors refused to renew his prescription for painkillers.

He added: 'As people got to know this, they would pester me to get some for them as well. They gave me £240 each. I would not charge for this as I was going there anyway.

It didn't constitute supply, it was just giving to a few friends.

Heighton said the large amount of cash found in the house was saved up for family Christmas presents and for treatment.

Defending, Gordon Hennel told Judge Nicholas Woodward: 'This is somebody who, unwisely no doubt, decided to medicate himself for his problems and, as people got to know about this, he got into the way of buying cannabis for them.

'He is a man of previous good character who is vulnerable. He is concerned that he lives with his wife and family and he got himself into a situation from which he would be grateful to extricate himself.'

Judge Nicholas Woodward told Heighton: 'Parliament was clear when cannabis was moved from Class B to C that the sentence for the supply of Class C drugs would increase so that there would be no change for the suppliers. But your circumstances are such that I can consider a non-custodial sentence.'

Heighton was ordered to serve a 12-month community punishment order, in which he will undertake 100 hours of work. He will pay £350 costs.

(BuzzNote: In the US this man would have been looking out from behind bars for at least 10 years. The UK is far more compassionate. For the moment. Both liberals and conservatives are campaigning to emulate the United State's approach to drugs.)

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I think you should be able to smoke whatever the **** you want