Trio 'posted cannabis chocolate'

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Three people were caught posting cannabis-lace chocolate bars to MS sufferers by a Royal Mail worker, Carlisle Crown Court has heard.

Mark Gibson and his wife, MS sufferer Lezley, both 42, of Alston, Cumbria, are standing trial alongside Marcus Davies, 36, of St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

All three face two charges each of conspiring to supply cannabis. They all deny the charges.

Police seized 33 bags containing the bars from a sorting office last year.

It is alleged the trio supplied home-made "Canna-Biz" bars by post to help patients cope with the pain of multiple sclerosis - a progressive crippling illness that affects the central nervous system.

The court was told the defendants were members of a not-for-profit organisation called Therapeutic Help from Cannabis for Multiple Sclerosis (THC4MS) and they "made no secret" of involvement in supplying the 150g bars.

'Cottage industry'

It also heard how the Carlisle depot's duty manager alerted officers after a package fell open as it was being sorted. It was later found to be laced with 3.5g of cannabis.

Jeremy Grout-Smith, prosecuting, told the court all the packages were later traced to Mr Davies.

He also said bar wrappers were printed with a website address of THC4MS which was later found to be run by the three defendants.

Police raided the home of Mark and Lezley Gibson in Alston on 7 February this year.

Mr Grout-Smith said: "They found some machinery for the manufacture of the bars - all to be used in what was really a cottage industry to make chocolate bars impregnated with cannabis."

Two sheds containing cannabis plants were also found at Davies' home, the prosecution said.

The trial continues.