A CAMPAIGNER battling to legalise cannabis to combat her painful disease landed in court after warning police of her unlawful behaviour.

Multiple sclerosis sufferer Michelle X tipped-off officers, emailing them to reveal she was growing 'medicinal' cannabis in her Abingdon home.

The 49-year-old, who was handed a six-month conditional discharge, told magistrates she would keep breaking the law until the class B drug is legally used to treat medical conditions in the UK.

Sentencing her on Monday, magistrates told X they had to follow 'rules which dictate us'.

Police searched X's Lammas Close home, discovering a glass jar with 'green matter', along with cannabis plants and a heat lamp on July 30 last year.

Cash-strapped X admitted possessing and growing the cannabis during police interview, telling officers the drug was the only way she could 'cope' with her condition.

But using cannabis for medicinal purposes provided no defence in UK law, Oxford Magistrates' Court heard.

The defendant, who must pay a £20 victim surcharge, told magistrates she would not take the stand during her trial as she was unable to rely on medical studies as evidence.

Magistrates, who ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis and equipment, scrapped their decision to force X to pay £650 costs after hearing taxpayers would foot the bill for the defendant as she is deemed unable to work.

The activist was slapped with a two-year conditional discharge last year after she was convicted by jurors at Oxford Crown Court of running a drugs farm in her home.