CANNABIS USER FINED AFTER HOME RAID

Cannabis smoking musician John Ramirez said he has "no regrets" after being
left UKP 400 out of pocket by the courts after he admitted possessing UKP 5
worth of the drug.

Speaking after the case at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday he said the fine
he was landed with had not altered his views on legalising and smoking
cannabis.

"I have no regrets about standing up for my beliefs, it's important for
people to stand up for what they believe in. I've committed no real crime,"
he said.

"I still feel that I was right to go ahead with the Human Rights issues and
take it that far."

Police found a small lump of cannabis during a raid involving 14 officers
at his home in Faraday Road, Ipswich, last July.

Ramirez had denied the charge of possessing a class B drug claiming police
infringed his human rights, and argued that officers were wrong to raid his
home. He felt their limited resources would be better deployed targeting
"real criminals".

But after legal argument failed yesterday he changed his plea and admitted
possessing the drug. He was fined UKP 100 for possession and ordered to pay
UKP 300 legal costs.

He said: "It was out of context for what they found and for personal use,
it was over the top. It's all down to different policing in different areas.

"For the cost of police work and since that first court appearance, it was
not worth it for tax payers - it was unnecessary."

Ramirez ran for the Legalise Cannabis Party during the recent
Ipswich-by-election and polled 236 votes.

He admitted the last six months had taken their toll on his family and now
he just wanted to get on with his studies as a performance arts student at
Suffolk College.

"I'm glad it is all over it gives us the opportunity to discuss it more openly.

"I want to carry on with my studies at college, the case has affected me
and my wife and son, he has a phobia about police officers now."