Jacqui Ritchie spoke out after appearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitting producing the plants.The offence took place at her home in Stonehaven’s Redcloak Drive on March 8 this year.

The court was told that the mum-of-two was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, and that it turned out to be a rare and aggressive form – triple negative metaplastic breast cancer, with only around 600 others affected around the world.Jacqui also said she suffered from HER2 cancer and BRCA1 gene mutation.

She ended up having a double mastectomy, and later used cannabis to help combat the side-effects of chemotherapy, mainly using the oil she obtained from the plants.Speaking after the case, Jacqui, who shows no evidence of the disease currently but is due to have more scans in November, said: “I feel as if the police could have used their discretion and not wasted money in taking me to court.

“They have made me feel like a criminal for trying to save my own life.“For a patient who has been diagnosed with cancer and is using it medicinally, it is very harsh.“It’s not a narcotic, it’s a superfood.”

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Source: North-east cancer sufferer in court for growing cannabis to save her life – Evening Express