A CROWN court jury was wrong to acquit a North Wales cannabis campaigner after a high-profile trial, according to a Home Office official.
For although Jeffrey Ditchfield was cleared by a jury of possessing the drug and intending to supply it, there was no doubt that what he was doing was unlawful, the official claimed.
But, following the four-day trial at Chester Crown Court last month - said to have cost £100,000 - the Government has acknowledged more needs to be done to make the reclassification of cannabis clearly understood.
Mr Ditchfield, 48, who had originally planned to open a Dutch-style cannabis cafe in Water Street, Rhyl, told the court he would supply the drug only for medicinal purposes.
The verdict so incensed community campaigner Colin Jones, of Wellington Road, Rhyl, he wrote to Home Secretary David Blunkett.
In a reply to Mr Jones, the Home Office official said: "It seems that the jury were swayed by the use of the cannabis for medicinal purposes. Nevertheless, they reached a verdict contrary to the reported facts of the case in that the unauthorised possession of, and intent to supply, cannabis - for what-ever reason - are illegal.
"In these circumstances, the judge in the case very properly warned Mr Ditchfield that he could face further prosecution if he continued what he was doing. It is for the police and Crown Prosecution Service to determine this in accord-ance with the law."
The letter continued: "The law itself - for which the Home Office has Departmental responsibility - is clear as to the unlawfulness of Mr Ditchfield's activity.
"The Government accepts, however, that more needs to be done to make its cannabis reclassification message clearly understood."
He said the information campaign surrounding the reclassification of cannabis as a Class C drug had been aimed at ensuring that young people, in particular, were aware that it remained illegal and was harmful," the letter continued.
Mr Jones said he was pleased at the Home Office stance and was encouraged to press the authorities to either appeal against the not guilty verdicts or take fresh action against Mr Ditchfield. "I want to see that place shut down, and so do a lot of other people in Rhyl," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said it was currently reviewing the position.
Mr Jones said yesterday he was prepared to stand as a candidate in the forthcoming council elections as a direct alternative to Mr Ditchfield in West Rhyl.
"I am quite happy to stand because quite a few people have been asking me if I will," said Mr Ditchfield.
