Disabled Sheffield woman slams police after prosecution for growing medicinal cannabis

A Sheffield woman prosecuted for growing cannabis for medicinal purposes has hit out at the amount of time it took for her case to reach court – claiming the lengthy delay has added to her anguish of being ‘criminalised’.

Lisa Andrews, aged 44, was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis after her home on Keats Road, Fox Hill, was raided by the police in April 2018 and 50 plants were found.

Lisa, who is registered disabled, claims she needed to grow so many for the oil she uses to ease her ailments, including heart problems, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression.

She claims traditional medication does not work.

Lisa used to buy the oil from a dealer but after losing her hairdressing business of 10 years, opted to produce her own instead to save money.

Lisa, who was eventually prosecuted in July 2020 – over two years after her arrest – was sentenced to an 18 month community order after pleading guilty cannabis production.

She launched an official complaint to South Yorkshire Police about the way her case was handled, claiming delays in her case reaching court has affected her health.

Lisa said: “As a disabled lady with multiple overlapping health issues including heart failure and heart disease, along with physical disabilities, I am absolutely disgusted in the way the police have handled my case.

“The amount of stress that the police have caused throughout this time is immeasurable and the effects of this have damaged me and my mental health drastically and permanently.”

Outlining the timeline of events, she said the police file after her arrest was not handed to the Crown Prosecution Service for nine months.

It was returned to South Yorkshire Police as incomplete, with evidence missing twice.

In August 2019, the CPS advised South Yorkshire Police to charge Lisa, who was notified four months later.

Lisa said: “With extreme delays in proceedings my health has drastically reduced along with my mental health and I am now receiving weekly counselling sessions with M.I.N.D due to the stress and anxiety these delays have caused along with being criminalised.

“In realistic terms after a two-and-a half year delay and being given an 18 month suspended sentence, I will in fact have practically served a sentence of four years.”

She continues to campaign for the legalisation of the use of cannabis for medicinal reasons.

“Cannabis helps me function in a way which traditional medications don’t,” she said.

“Before this I’d never even had a speeding ticket before. I was in pain, had lost my business and had never grown a cannabis plant so it was my first time but there was no leniency shown. I was hauled before the courts in the same way as everyone else when other criminals have victims. I’d only grown some plants.”

South Yorkshire Police said: “We can confirm we did receive a complaint from Ms Andrews in relation to this matter.

“An internal review was undertaken, which determined that the investigation was reasonable and proportionate.

“Ms Andrews has since been informed of the outcome.”

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