Homegrown // Current

A private life

A West Wales man has gone on trial claiming the right to cultivate his own cannabis.
Neil Christopher James Morgan, 52, told police officers they were infringing his rights under the European Human Rights Act--and even lit up a cannabis reefer in front of them.

A jury at Swansea crown court heard how four police officers armed with a search warrant descended on a group of caravans parked in woodland off the B4333 Newcastle Emlyn to Cynwyl Elfed road.

Neil, who is representing himself during the trial, told the court his defence was Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, which, he said, guaranteed his right to a private life.

Neil said he would not deny cultivating the plants. But he would argue that his arrest and prosecution were illegal.

A spokesman for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, said: Neil's case is particularly interesting as nobody else was involved, there is no allegation of supply, and he lived so far away from anyone else in a wood in South Wales.

"Moreover, in a previous court appearance in Swansea, police stated that although what he was doing was illegal, they did not consider it to be a criminal activity! Nobody was at risk of harm and nobody's own Rights were being effected.

"Nevertheless, Neil has been taken to court and is about to appear again this time at Crown Court in Cardiff on September 2nd. This time he may be sent to prison -- for what?

If Neil is not entitled to his private life in that situation, then none of us are. It means that police can force their way into their homes without good reason, and get away with it. The police are breaking the law and in some countries the prosecution would be disqualified. In Britain it appears there is nowhere we can go for a Private Life -- even miles from our nearest neighbours"

Neil has openly admitted that he grows cannabis for his own use -- but the system seems set in concrete and he has made very little progress gaining support for his defence.

The trial continues at Cardiff Crown Court on 02/09/08 -- The LCA will be there to support him, please try and be thereA West Wales man has gone on trial claiming the right to cultivate his own cannabis. Neil Christopher James Morgan, 52, told... more