Police praised 'for updating policy and training' after wrongful drugs arrest
The South West's first 'medicinal cannabis roadshow' takes place today to highlight the fact that it is legal for prescribed use
Last updated 6th Nov 2023
A Devon man - who was wrongly arrested for drugs offences in Plymouth - has praised the force for making changes.
Sal Aziz - who's allowed to use cannabis for medicinal reasons - spent four hours in a cell at the start of the Summer and then had to wait another four weeks to be cleared.
Today he's part of the South West's first 'medicinal cannabis roadshow' taking place in Exeter at the city's community centre hosted by The Sanskara Platform and a number of other partners.
Sal says it's been legal to prescribe it since 2018, but few people realise what it can be used for.
He said: "It can be used for a wide range of conditions from pain to neurological to mental health - and there's approximately 20,000-30,000 patients in the UK finding benefit from this treatment.
"I'm furious that it happened (his arrest) to begin with, but I'm really grateful that I've been able to work with the police to address the issues that are there, and make sure that something like this can't happen again."
A force spokesperson said: "Devon & Cornwall Police is taking steps to update force policy in relation to medicinal cannabis. This follows an incident earlier this year where a person was arrested and subsequently released with no further policing action being taken.
“A Drugs Liaison Officer has written to the person concerned detailing the changes that the force is seeking to make, which include a training package that has been produced for all frontline officers to ensure they can be equipped with the latest guidance and information to identify medicinal cannabis patients.
“Additional training has also been given to Specialist Drug Expert teams to ensure they can provide additional guidance to officers where required.
“This is an ongoing piece of work with areas still under review of how we can best prepare and train officers so that people in possession of medicinal cannabis are not arrested in our force area.”
The force has undergone joint training on the issue alongside members of Avon & Somerset and Dorset Police.
Sal, who lives in Seaton, added: "Despite being legal in the UK since November 2018, medical cannabis still faces a stigma that impedes its acceptance. The roadshow aims to normalise medical cannabis by fostering an open and inclusive dialogue.
"We strive to create an environment where patients can feel comfortable discussing their experiences and challenges without fear of judgement. This normalisation will lead to a more compassionate approach towards medical cannabis, reducing the barriers that patients face.
"To promote the safe and responsible use of medical cannabis, the roadshow will host a series of informative sessions.
"The UK's first Medical Cannabis Roadshow promises to be a milestone event that will shape the future of medical cannabis in the country. Together, let's pave the way for a more informed, supportive, and compassionate approach to medical cannabis. By promoting medical cannabis awareness week, you are actively contributing to the advancement of patient rights and healthcare in the UK.
"Following my arrest a couple of months ago, I have been working with Devon and Cornwall police to prevent a problem like this happening again to another medical cannabis patient, and I will be sharing an official update from their Drug Expert during the conference."