Jenny Hallam last week pleaded not guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court to possession and manufacturing charges related to medical cannabis.
It was just over a year ago that Ms. Hallam’s home was raided by South Australian Police, interrupting supply of medicines to those she was assisting.
Ms. Hallam had reportedly been supplying medicinal cannabis oil at no cost to a number of people across Australia, including fellow medical cannabis advocate and Stiff Person Syndrome patient Ben Oakley (pictured above left) – who we’ve mentioned a few times here on Hemp Gazette.
ABC reports Ms. Hallam stated her actions were “morally right” after entering her not guilty plea.
“It was a medical necessity — the people were in need. Those people would have died if I hadn’t of provided that treatment,” she said.
The strain on Ms. Hallam was clear in a Facebook post dated January 4 attributed to her, which lamented a “chain of events that would change my life forever and caused the deaths of numerous people.”
“My life has bn destroyed.. financially, emotionally, physically, mentally.. I have nothing left,” she stated. “This isn’t over. It wont be over until everyone in this country has access to cannabis.”
One commenter on the post said:
“So wrong on every level. They announce today Australia become the world’s leader in medicinal cannabis, and yet they do this to a pioneer. Not right at all.”
In late December, prior to Ms. Hallam’s hearing, Ben Oakley posted a message of support and called for letters from others for use in the case.
“Jenny has not only saved my life… but she has given me and so many others the opportunity to flourish and live again,” said Mr. Oakley. “She deserves a medal, not a jail cell!”
Close to 200 letters were presented to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the hope the charges would be dropped, but to no avail.
Ms. Hallam will now be arraigned in the District Court in March and stand trial at a date yet to be set.
“I’m not looking forward to it but if that’s what happens, then so be it,” she said. “Someone has to stand up and say, ‘enough is enough, we will not take this anymore and we will stand up and fight’”.
