DRUG REBEL FIGHTS FOR DAY IN COURT

A DRUGS campaigner is demanding he is prosecuted for smoking cannabis after
being told charges against him have been dropped.

Multiple sclerosis sufferer Paul Roddy had said he was delighted after the
Crown Prosecution Service said it was 'not in the public interest' to take
the case to court.

But yesterday the 41-year-old from Wythenshawe applied for the proceedings
to be revived at Manchester magistrates court.

Last week the Manchester Evening News told how Mr Roddy - a member of the
Medical Marijuana Co-Operative - was cleared by a jury at Manchester Crown
Court of having UKP 15 of the drug in his possession.

He is one of several MS sufferers across the country who have successfully
defended possession charges on the grounds of medical necessity.

He has been arrested a number of times for having the Class C drug but says
he uses it merely to keep at bay the pain he suffers from his incurable
condition.

He now expects to receive a fresh summons and will enter a plea of not guilty.

He said: "The withdrawal of the prosecution is all well and good but it
still doesn't mean I can smoke my cannabis without looking over my shoulder.

"They can still arrest me at any time and throw me in a cell. It is
barbaric and it has to stop. They also took my cannabis off me and I want
it back."

No one from the Crown Prosecution Service was available for comment.