Medicinal cannabis suppliers Heather Gladman, 59, and Liam Hotham, 27, have been charged after police raided their property near Sale in East Gippsland.


A PAIR who claim to supply medicinal cannabis to dozens of chronically ill children and adults have been charged with cultivating cannabis following a police raid in East Gippsland.

Heather Gladman, 58, and Liam Hotham, 27, have been part of the long fight to legalise medical marijuana across the state and say they are “shattered” by the criminal charges.

Police swooped on their Bradleys Rd property in Stradbroke, near Sale, where they live in separate dwellings, just after 9am Thursday, seizing about 70 plants.

One of the plants was from a seedling a Victorian family sourced from Canada which was meant to specifically help their eight-year-old son who has an inoperable brain tumour.

“The quality of life of those who we supply to is now in danger,” Ms Gladman said.

“I am not a criminal. I’m trying to help these families. I don’t charge them anything. You can't put a price on a life.”

The latest charges also come in the same month Victorian couple Matthew and Elizabeth Pallet were committed to stand trial in the County Court over similar alleged offences.

The Pallets, along with Mr Hotham and Ms Gladman, have all said they will fight the charges.

When asked if the charges would stop her growing, Ms Gladman said: “Not on your life. I’m going home to plant more seeds.

“I am going to fight this until I drop. I’m nearly 60 years old and I want the laws to change before I die.”

In October, the Andrews Government announced it would move to legalise access to locally-manufactured medicinal cannabis, particularly for children with cancer or epilepsy, as early as 2017.

Government-backed cannabis cultivation trials are also taking place this year at a secret location in Melbourne.

Mr Hotham called on Premier Daniel Andrews for an amnesty for those already using the products while legislation is being considered.

“It’s about time we get amnesty,” he said.

“We’re known for being so caring and compassionate for what we do so we are just shattered.

“When it’s kept a boy with an inoperable brain tumour alive and people have said to me it’s the first time in eight years they haven’t felt pain, it brings tears to my eyes we won’t be able to supply it to them in the immediate future.”

Ms Gladman and Mr Hotham both admitted they had first hand experience on the positive effects of medical marijuana.

A spokeswoman for Mr Andrews would not comment on the recent charges.

“The Government has introduced legislation to the parliament and will make good on its promise to legalise medicinal cannabis, because no parent should ever have to choose between their child’s quality of life and breaking the law,” she said.

“It’s important to consider that these laws will not be retrospective, and it is still an offence to grow or supply medical cannabis.”

Ms Gladman and Mr Hotham will appear at Sale Magistrates Court on March 15.

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reference:http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/pair-who-claim-to-supply-medicinal-cannabis-to-ill-children-shattered-after-police-raid-their-home/news-story/4b53718ca4254a0c5094dabc2f1d18e7