COPS TOO HOT ON POT, CLAIM TRIO

A man convicted of supplying cannabis to Multiple Sclerosis
sufferers is accusing the police of double standards.

He has attacked police guidelines that allow youngsters caught with
the drug to get off with a warning.

Mark Gibson, 42, and his wife, Lezley, also 42, from Alston, Cumbria,
along with Marcus Davies, of St Ives, Cambridgeshire, received nine-
month suspended prison sentences on Friday.

Carlisle Crown Court heard they supplied cannabis chocolate to MS
sufferers.

Cumbria Police said they were following new Association of Chief
Police Officers - Acpo - guidelines, which say those under 18 found
with the drug will have it confiscated before being reprimanded then
taken home.

However, Mark, whose wife has MS, said: "We have Acpo saying it's
unfair to prosecute under 18-year-olds for possession and that they
should be sent home with a slap on the wrists. Then Cumbria Police
arrest, charge and prosecute us for providing a drug to MS sufferers
while following Acpo's guidance on youngsters. It's sheer hypocrisy.

"What about the human rights of all those MS sufferers who need
cannabis to alleviate their symptoms?

"It's a ridiculous situation. Now all those MS victims we have being
helping will have to go to the illegal market to purchase their
medicine, thus funding organised crime."

The three are planning to appeal.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "We follow the Acpo Drugs Case
Disposal guidelines.

"These must be applied to the person concerned and they must qualify
for a caution in their own right under the guidelines."

The new Acpo guidance said officers should find "less intrusive" ways
of dealing with youngsters caught with the drug and that they should
be given warnings.