UK Court accepts eczema defense

Here's a sane and humane decision from the UK courts. Ian Howarth was given a conditional discharge for growing his own cannabis based on the court's belief he was smoking it to relieve the symptoms of his severe eczema.

The 25 year old, regularly hospitalized, and out on sick leave on account of the condition, smoked cannabis to relieve the itching and very often the pain he suffers from eczema. He was caught with 7 mature plants and ten seedlings.

There was no word as to what the judge did about the other counts of petty thievery for Howarth's having stolen some tubes of ointment and a tank full of petrol for his car.