A Cross Roads man who learned via the Internet how to grow cannabis has been jailed for 56 days.

Hartley Wood had logged on to a web site for a step-by-step guide to cultivating the drug, Bradford Crown Court was told on Wednesday.

He then grew 19 plants at his Bingley Road home after setting up an irrigation system.

Police discovered the haul when they carried out a search of his loft last May.

When interviewed, 31-year-old Wood said he was growing the plants for his own use because it was cheaper than buying cannabis.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of cultivating the drug.

Nadim Bashir, defending, said Wood was "at the very bottom of the scale" with regards to the amount of cannabis being produced.

Judge Roger Scott said it had to be understood that the drug, and its production, was illegal.

All the recovered plants will now be destroyed.

The Internet Service Providers (ISP) Association told the Keighley News that any individual is able to buy web space, and ISPs cannot control what information is placed on those sites.

The case has reopened public debate about the legalisation of cannabis.

David Samuels -- chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Support Group, an international organisation -- said a lot of people with the chronic condition have tried, or are on, the drug.

But he is against its legalisation.

He said: "Cannabis should remain illegal except in cases where it has been provided by a medical practitioner. It is a palliative drug -- it does not cure MS, but helps kill the pain.

"One of the problems with cannabis is that it is highly addictive, and is very dangerous unless it is used under extremely strict medical supervision. It can lead to haemorrhaging, liver complaints and brain malfunction."

Keighley man Paul Anderson, who has MS, said controlled trials were currently being carried out in a bid to precisely establish how cannabis benefitted sufferers.

He has never used the drug, but would welcome its availability on prescription provided the trials find it would be beneficial.

The ISPA spokesman added: "The Internet provides a wonderful avenue to information and education and has revolutionised communications, but unfortunately there is a down side.

"We are extremely concerned when the Internet is misused. However, it should be stressed that the positive benefits of the net far outweigh the negative aspects."

The ISPA works closely with an organisation known as the Internet Watch Foundation to address the problem of illegal material on web sites.