'Cannabis chocolate' jury chosen

A jury has been sworn in for the trial of three people accused of supplying chocolate bars laced with cannabis to multiple sclerosis sufferers.

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. All three deny the charges.

The trial is due to open at Carlisle Crown Court on Tuesday.

Organisation members

It is alleged they 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.

Supplying cannabis without proper authority is a criminal offence which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail and a fine.

In August 2005, the trio were charged with supplying the class C drug throughout 2004 until February 2005.

The defendants are members of a not-for-profit organisation called Therapeutic Help from Cannabis for Multiple Sclerosis (THC4MS).

The trial is expected to last seven days.