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| Drug Win MS Sufferer's New Court Ordeal |
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Posted by FoM on March 22, 2002 at 10:18:55 PT Headline News Source: Manchester Evening News 
Incurably ill Paul Roddy, who was cleared by a jury for possession of a small amount of cannabis, was back in court today - for an alleged carbon copy offence. Now taxpayers face another huge bill for taking multiple sclerosis sufferer Mr Roddy through the Manchester courts system again.Anger erupted at Manchester Crown Court yesterday when the father-of-three, 41, was arrested before he could leave the dock. The jury had just acquitted him of illegal possession of cannabis worth just £15 - which he uses for pain relief - when officers swooped. Cannabis campaigners, who were in court to support Mr Roddy, from Wythenshawe, labelled the police action as ''barbaric''. But officers took him away for a night in a police cell. He admits carrying cannabis all the time for pain relief. He had hidden some down his sock when police arrested him for stealing two plums from a shop. Today, he was due to appear before magistrates in the city on a charge of possessing a small amount of cannabis in July last year. Today's court action comes on the day a House of Lords report has recommended legalising the use of cannabis-based drugs for medicinal purposes. The Lords select committee on science and technology said people who use cannabis to ease the symptoms of conditions such as multiple sclerosis should not be prosecuted. The Lords report said: ''In the absence of a viable alternative medicine, and though we would not encourage smoking of cannabis, we consider it undesirable to prosecute genuine therapeutic users of cannabis who possess or grow cannabis for their own use.'' Today, Colin Davies, 44 - who last year handed a posy of marijuana to the Queen as she opened The Lowry centre in Salford - said: ''This is making an ass of the law. ''Paul Roddy said in court that the police will always find him in possession of cannabis as long as he suffers from multiple sclerosis. Unfortunately for Mr Roddy, as he has explained, if searched for cannabis the probability of finding it will be very high because he uses it to control his symptoms. ''This shows the lack of compassion that the police and the authorities actually have when regarding people who use cannabis for pain relief and relief of other symptoms. ''Mr Roddy had to spend the night in police custody to appear at a magistrates' court, and until his release he will be withheld the only medicine that he believes helps his condition and that is barbaric.'' Mr Roddy was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998 and said he suffered from leg pains, speech and balance problems and loss of vision. During his two-day trial he said that since taking cannabis his symptoms had improved considerably. He said: ''The depression has really gone and the vision is brilliant.'' He was conditionally discharged on the theft charge. Source: Manchester Evening News (UK) Related Articles & Web Site: Dutch Experience Euro MP's Drugs Protest Owner Dealt in Cannabis at His Café Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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