WHY PUNISH THE SICK?

So Cromer magistrates have sentenced a 69 year-old pensioner to severe
cramps in both his legs for a year ("Man, 69, admits growing cannabis",
Evening News, June 24)

You reported that Bernard Holt, who lost his leg four years ago after an
operation went wrong, found that cannabis "made the pain go away". He had
apparently found the cannabis growing in his greenhouse - well, after all
it is a weed and the seed is present in birdseed. But who had this man
harmed? How had he threatened society? Who will come forward as a
victim for his so-called crimes? Who will testify against him?

Only those paid to do so by the state, out of the taxpayer's purse!

Surely we don't want to see the courts punishing people for growing a plant
at home to ease their pain, rather than be a burden on the drug-peddling
health services?

Can anyone justify this type of prosecution? What Right did the police
have to invade his privacy? Was the prosecution really in the public
interest?

It's time we rid ourselves of this sort mis-application of the Misuse of
Drugs Act, for in this case, at least, it was a use, not a misuse at all.

Alun Buffry
Legalise Cannabis Alliance
Norwich