A NORTH Wales cannabis campaigner yesterday blasted legal bosses and cops after spending more than a year on bail.
Jeff Ditchfield complained about his 12 months on remand in a letter to the director of public prosecutions.
The 49-year-old from Rhyl was bailed on suspicion of cultivating cannabis in June last year.
He was earlier found not guilty at Chester Crown Court of possession and intent to supply the drug after a jury heard he gave it to people for medical reasons.
Mr Ditchfield, of Water Street, who stood as a candidate for the Legalize Cannabis Alliance in the general election, yesterday asked the head of the Crown Prosecution Service why he was on bail for so long.
In a letter to director of public prosecutions Ken MacDonald, Mr Ditch-field wrote: "I have been on bail since June 2004 on 'suspicion of conspiracy to cultivate cannabis'; my co-accused has been on bail since March 2004.
"I am at a loss to understand why I have not been formally charged by North Wales Police.
"You are well aware that any decision made by the CPS to prosecute has to be 'in the public interest'.
"I do not believe that the prosecution of people who supply cannabis-based chocolate to MS sufferers passes this test."
Since his acquittal by a jury in January last year, an appeal court judge ruled Mr Ditchfield's defence of 'necessity' in supplying cannabis for medical reasons should not have been allowed, but did not overrule the verdict.
Mr Ditchfield said he was now seeking to appeal that decision in the House of Lords.
He said yesterday: "People who supply cannabis chocolate are being prosecuted by the DPP on charges of conspiracy.
"I have been on bail for conspiracy since June last year and my co-accused since March last year.
"I think it's ridiculous and I am annoyed. No reason has been given.
"I find it ironic that the head of the CPS Mr MacDonald, who decides whether I am prosecuted, is someone with a conviction for supplying cannabis recreationally.
"I want him to pull his finger out and charge me or drop my bail. I have had my bail extended five times.
"I have given a full and frank inter-view to the police. I'm willing to go before a jury because I want to change the law."
A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service in North Wales said yesterday a decision on the case was delayed by the appeal, concluded in May.
"We are presently considering an advice file the police have submitted and once that it concluded we will be submitting our advice to the police on any charges."
