A CANNABIS user who smokes the drug to battle chronic shoulder pain has been banned from the roads for a year.

Jason Phillip Murray appeared via videolink at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court this week, where he admitted a charge of drug driving.

Murray, 36, from Newtown, was driving a Land Rover Discovery on the A470 at Llandinam on December 11 last year when he was stopped by police officers.

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Prosecutor Rebecca Ross said on Tuesday, May 30: “PC Jones was on duty and stopped the vehicle. He suspected the defendant was driving under the influence of something. He appeared nervous and twitchy.

“A roadside drug wipe proved positive and he was arrested.”

She said Murray, of Lon Ceirios, Newtown, had no prior convictions.

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The level of the Class B drug in his blood was 3.5 micrograms – the legal limit is 2mcgs. 

Murray, speaking in his own defence, had been granted the opportunity to appear at the hearing remotely as he contacted the court on a previous occasion and told them he suffered with social anxiety and had been scared at the prospect of attending in person.

“The officer followed me for seven miles from Llanidloes,” said Murray.

“I wasn’t nervous and twitchy. It was -3 degrees that day and it was cold. I also wasn’t intoxicated. I accept I was over the limit but I could have smoked a week earlier and still would have been over.

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“I smoke for medicinal purposes as I have a chronic shoulder injury and have social anxiety. I was accepted by a medical cannabis clinic last year to receive a Cancard (a medical ID card, recognised by the police, which is a validated indication to any third-party that you are consuming cannabis for medical reasons).

“I just haven’t got the funds as I was made homeless two months ago. I now have a property. It has taken me a full year to be on the correct benefits.”

Murray was disqualified from driving for a year and ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.