JUDGE REJECTS MEDICINAL CANNABIS USE DEFENCE

An Invercargill woman's claim that her doctor authorised her use of
cannabis was yesterday thrown out at the Invercargill District Court.

Joy Marie Telke, 53, appeared before Judge Dominic Flatley on charges of
possession of cannabis, morphine capsules and two cannabis pipes,
following the pre-Christmas bust by the Invercargill Police called
Operation Santa.

Telke said she had been given written approval to use cannabis as pain
relief. The morphine was used for the same reason, she said. Judge Flatley
dismissed any possibility that permission existed. "It is against the law,
you cannot possess it, you cannot use it."

Self-medication of that kind was both dangerous and illegal, he said.
Telke was sentenced to 180 hours' community work.

A total of 18 people were arrested in Operation Santa, which targeted the
peddling of cannabis and LSD in the region and wider dealing in classes A,
B and C drugs.