Hashishi

Crusader jailed for growing cannabis for ill patients
A CRUSADER from Rugby who claimed he grew cannabis to help relieve people's medical illnesses has been jailed.
11-27-`07 | The Rugby Advertiser

Roderick Cotton may have got away with a non-custodial sentence, but he told Warwick Crown Court that he would not stop his campaign to help people with medical conditions - so he was given a 12-month sentence.

Even Judge Marten Coates admitted that he had sympathy for the 46-year-old's campaign but added that he did not agree with his methods.

Cotton said he grew the cannabis at his home in Caldecott Street, Rugby, for his personal use and to supply people through a group called Bud Buddies, which helps patients who cannot afford to get the drug legally.

When police raided his house in August last year, they found more than 250 cannabis plants.

Just a week before he appeared in court again, police found more plants in his home - so he appeared in the dock from the cells.

Cotton said: "In mitigation, all I can say is we only supplied people who were suffering and could not get it legall
y."

"There is no argument I can put before a jury. The only argument I can put is before a Judge."

Judge Coates told Cotton: "I know you have a crusade, but you waste so much public time and money achieving nothing.

"I am not without sympathy for your point of view, although I don't agree with it.

"I was tempted not to send you to prison, but you have ruined that."

Cotton said he was taking his case to the Court of Appeal following the Judge ruling against him at the earlier hearing, and once he gets a definitive answer there 'I will not be back in this court again'.

Jailing him, Judge Coates said: "Mr. Cotton has a previous conviction for producing cannabis at his home, and here we are again.

"I have asked if he will give an undertaking never to commit this kind of offence again. He cannot give that undertaking. Therefore I cannot pass a non-custodial sentence."

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