MEDICAL CANNABIS SMOKER VOWS TO CARRY ON

A Drug user who described cannabis as "the aspirin of the 21st
century" told a court he is seriously considering moving to Holland.

Carl Youell, who was caught growing cannabis, claims he uses it to
ease pain he suffers and he does not intend to give it up.

Youell, 43, of Distillery Square, Norwich, was ordered to do 100 hours
of community work after admitting possessing herbal cannabis and
cannabis resin and producing the drug.

Passing sentence magistrates' chairman Nigel Dixon said: "We accept
that you use cannabis for medical purposes."

Prosecutor Patricia Newton said police armed with a search warrant
went to Youell's home in January when the drug was still classified as
class B. It has since been reclassified class C.

The police found 13 mature cannabis plants being grown in the back
bedroom. They also found 14 freshly planted seedlings in the living
room.

They also found herbal cannabis with a street value of more than UKP
300 and a small amount of cannabis resin.

Youell said all the cannabis was for his own use. He was aware that
possessing and cultivating the drug were illegal, but did not regard
the offences as particularly serious matters.

He said cannabis was the "aspirin of the 21st century" and he used it
for medical reasons, including depression, resulting from serious
injuries he suffered some time ago.

David Foulkes, for Youell, said he had a long history of offences
relating to his own drug use, particularly cannabis, but it was five
years since his last drug related conviction.

Youell relied on cannabis for pain relief, having suffered leg
injuries when he was attacked some years ago.

"It is clear that he has strong personal views about cannabis," said
Mr Foulkes.

He was growing cannabis for his own use, but did not intend to carry
on doing so. However, he was likely to continue using the drug.

"This has caused him to think about the wider picture. Clearly his
views are not universally held in this country.

"One of his options is to move to Holland in the future and that is
something he is seriously thinking of doing because of the
difficulties if he continues to remain in this country," said Mr Foulkes.