"He was to explain to police he had been campaigning for 18 months for the laws in relation to cannabis to be changed, in effect to allow its use or smoking to be quite lawful." Mr Scholz said Ditchfield believed the drug should be available for medicinal use, particularly for sufferers with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although everyone knew it was legally wrong to possess, cultivate or supply cannabis, Mr Ditchfield would say it was morally right. In his interview with police, Ditchfield said he wanted to open Beggar's Belief as a "Dutch-style coffee shop" but because of planning delays he decided to stick with the existing planning use and open as a retail shop. Asked by police if he planned to sell or give cannabis away at his coffee shop he said he would not because it was illegal. But he repeated that if a person came to him seeking help with a medical condition, he would, where appropriate, not hesitate to give them cannabis. Asked if he would sell it he replied: "I have never charged a sick person for it and I wouldn't. It should be free on the NHS. It would be morally wrong to make money off sick people." The trial continues and is expected to end today. | 
