A Danish activist is facing up to 10 years in prison for supplying cannabis to other Danes suffering from serious medical conditions, according to a report from The Local. Currently, there is no medical cannabis program in the Scandinavian nation.
Claus “Moffe” Nielsen has been outspoken about providing the drug to his clients — who he said suffer from such ailments as cancer, fibromyalgia, and sclerosis — and knew that one day he might be arrested for it.
“It should be laboratory technicians, chemists and doctors who do it under controlled conditions,” he said in the report. “I’m no trained expert but I have some principles and I stand by them.”
Nielson pleaded guilty during his initial appearance in court. His wife, who was also charged, denied any guilt. According to the couple’s lawyer, Erbil Kaya, Nielsen “hasn’t hidden” what he does and knows it was illegal, noting that there is a documentary being filmed about him and he has nothing to hide.
“But he hasn’t done it to make money and be a criminal mastermind,” Kaya said. “He has done it in broad daylight and been open and honest about it.”
Danish voters largely support medical cannabis use — with one Gallup poll showing as much as 88 percent support. Last month, the Region of Southern Denmark’s Board of Health agreed to move forward on a plan to seek funding for a medical cannabis program, and Health Minister Sophie Løhde is considering a four-year national trial program. However, the country’s three largest parties – the Social Democrats, Venstre, and the Danish People’s Party — remain opposed to medical marijuana.