cannabisnews.com: MS Victim Will Fight Cannabis Charges 





MS Victim Will Fight Cannabis Charges 
Posted by CN Staff on July 16, 2002 at 19:56:03 PT
By John Ross and James Doherty 
Source: Scotsman UK
A wheelchair-bound cannabis campaigner has pledged to fight her prosecution of possessing and supplying cannabis, which she claims alleviates her crippling multiple sclerosis. Biz Ivol, 54, from South Ronaldsay in Orkney, a long-time supporter of legalising cannabis for medicinal purposes, was due to appear in court yesterday following a police raid last August. However, the case was continued without plea until 13 August when it was called at Kirkwall Sheriff Court. 
The charges allege she was in possession of cannabis, produced two cannabis plants and was concerned in the supply of the drug to others. In a recent television interview, Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, said that "people will take a sympathetic view" of Ms Ivol’s position. And last week, the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, relaxed the law on cannabis possession, downgrading the drug from Class B to Class C. The changes will come into force in July 2003. However, Ms Ivol said that far from clarifying the law regarding the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, Mr Blunkett’s statement had further confused matters. She said: "I don’t honestly understand last week’s statement. It is as clear as mud. "Every MS sufferer I have spoken to says that their doctors have told them to try it, so why can’t the doctors speak out and help us." Ms Ivol said that the supply charges brought against her relate to cannabis-laced chocolates which she has allegedly been making and distributing to fellow sufferers across the UK. If found guilty, she could face jail. She claimed that yesterday’s continuation of the court case was little more than a delaying tactic. Ms Ivol said she intends to plead not guilty and debate what she sees as the merits of cannabis use at a trial. She said: "It’s been nearly a year to get this to court. I want to plead not guilty and use the law of necessity which people who use cannabis for medicinal purposes have used successfully." The Legalise Cannabis Alliance is backing her stance. Don Barnard, a spokesman for the group, said yesterday: "I hope this stops immediately. I don’t see the sense of putting Biz through all this stress. She should be given a medal not criminalised." Campaigners claim cannabis use can alleviate some of the symptoms of MS, including pain in the joints and muscles. Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, said: "Biz and others like her are in an awful position as they tell me the only relief they get from the pain is by using cannabis. "They are effectively self-medicating and as Biz has now found out, they are always liable to prosecution. "If this goes to trial it will be an opportunity to raise awareness of the problem." Earlier this month on the Question Time programme, in response to concerns raised by Mr Carmichael over Ms Ivol’s prosecution, Mr Blair said: "We are looking at it urgently. We do understand there is a potential distinction between those that need it for medicinal purposes and those who don't." A spokesman for the Home Office said: "Clinical trials of cannabis are licensed by the Home Office and are currently being conducted on the potential effectiveness of cannabis treating MS, spinal injuries and other intractable, painful conditions. "Doctors should not prescribe cannabis until the quality and safety issues of any medicinal form have been scientifically established." He added that any future prescribing of cannabis would be subject to the same stringent licensing procedures imposed on other new drugs. Doctors would then prescribe pills or an inhaler, rather than resin or grass. Clinical trials are expected to be completed within the next year. But the spokesman warned that until it is approved, dealers would now face up to 14 years imprisonment.Source: Scotsman (UK)Author: John Ross and James Doherty Published: Wednesday, July 17, 2002Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 2002Contact: letters_ts scotsman.comWebsite: http://www.scotsman.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org/MS Victim Faces Jail Over Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13320.shtml 'Let Us Grow The Plants' http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11178.shtmlPolice Raid Home of Cannabis Sweets MS Woman http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10565.shtmlMS Sufferer Sells Cannabis Chocs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10382.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by goneposthole on July 17, 2002 at 09:14:49 PT
Painted with a broad brush
Sorry to be so tough on them, they all don't deserve it. I hate to sterotype any group. I'll simmer down later.
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Comment #3 posted by goneposthole on July 17, 2002 at 09:01:56 PT
Politicians
All politicians should be required to be examined by a proctologist to have their heads examined.Establish a scientific basis to determine if they have any brains at all. All results would be negative.Then, onto a cardiac specialist to examine the hole where their heart should be.These civil servants are completely uncivilized. I'll apologize for them, they don't know any better. That's the way it goes; first your money, then your clothes.
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Comment #2 posted by Dan B on July 16, 2002 at 23:11:22 PT
You're Right, FF
I get so angry when I hear about the stupid crap this government gets away with. They spend all their time trying to bust people for possessing certain drugs, then they act surprised when real crimes spin out of control. How many children were stolen from their families this week? How many people were killed 'accidentally' during no knock raids? How many murders were committed that could have been prevented if a greater portion of the police force were employed in the task of protecting and serving?And the City Police Marching Band and SWAT team plays on . . .Dan B
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Comment #1 posted by freedom fighter on July 16, 2002 at 23:02:59 PT
Tis is how Society benefit
from putting a 54 year old wheelchair-bounded in a cage for growing a plant or two.Thank goodness, no longer we as the Society will have to dole out our hard-tax monies on leeches like this wheelchair-bounded from hell! Heaven be praised!, we the Society no longer have to feel so uncomfortable looking at something sitting in a chair so helpless.I just do not want to even envision our society like this. Is the Society any safer putting this victim through this? Does your quality of Life improve after you put a wheelchair-bounded from hell into a cage for growing a plant or two?The answer is I don't FUCKING think so!ff
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