Cannabis taking gran Patricia Tabram could be facing six months in jail after police raided her home and arrested her on suspicion of cultivating the drug.

Cops arrested the 66-year-old who has become famous for promoting cannabis for medicinal use and her mouthwatering recipes like home made ice cream, soup and leak and potato pie, which include the drug.

She was then released without charge pending further inquiries after the raid which took place on Friday morning at just after 10am.

In April Mrs Tabram received a six month jail sentence, suspended for two years after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

But the grandmother-of-two, who stood for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance as a parliamentary candidate in the general election, said she only used the drug for medicinal reasons and to help elderly friends suffering a variety of ailments.

She also vowed to continue to take the drug as a natural remedy for tinnitus, mild depression and aches and pains caused by a car crash.

If found guilty of any drugs related crimes again she would have to carry out the six-month jail sentence she was given in April.

Following the raid, she said: "I don't know why they bothered. I only had four plants and three of those were dying. They took some lights and a switch that I use for growing as well.

"They took them away and said that I will probably have to go to the crown court again.

"If I have to go to court again I will represent myself and I want two witnesses. The two police who came in my house on Friday.

"And I want them to tell the court about the medical bed in my room that I have to use for my back. I have serious problems. I couldn't get in and out of a proper bed.

"It's things like this which really prove that I am a medicinal user. I don't think that I am doing anything wrong.

"I will also read out a copy of the speech from Tony Blair he made when cannabis was re-classified when he said that he hoped that medicinal users of the drug would not be targeted.

"I am not worried at all about being sent down. Many of the people in prison are just like me. Or they are teenagers who have been put there just because they have been caught with an ounce of weed on them for the third time.

"I also want to ask the police why they did not want to have a look in my freezer. I had ice cream with Mars Bars in it and fruit ice cream and potato and leak mix, all with cannabis in it.

"I told them it was in there but they weren't interested."

A spokesman for Northumbria Police, said: "As a result of information received, we executed a raid at an address in the Hexham area on Friday 16 September.

"A 66-year-old Humshaugh woman was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and bailed pending further enquiries."

.