Green campaigners back medical cannabis campaigner
01 March 2007
On Monday 5th March, Grandmother and medical cannabis campaigner Patricia Tabram is due to appear at Carlisle court for cannabis cultivation. Mrs. Tabram, a multiple sclerosis sufferer who once walked on crutches, will walk freely into the courts, knowing that cannabis has worked for her. She has advocated the use of cannabis in cooking, to ease sufferers pain.
'Granny' Tabram must not end up in prison like so many others have, her case should galvanise action on behalf of this Government to change the damaging and expensive prohibition.
Shane Collins, Green Party drugs spokesperson said, "The government have prohibited a free and effective medicine in favour of expensive pharmaceutical drugs with negative side effects. The real crime is for the government to criminalise and jail sick people for healing themselves and others."
Ingo Wagenknecht, long standing Green Party campaigner and environmental spokesperson for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, said: "Cannabis has been shown to work with illnesses like asthma and glaucoma, it has tumour shrinking capacities and relieves tension and muscle spasms, many cancer sufferers get relief from this still illegal drug. Now is the time for a gradual legalisation, making it able for the NHS to prescribe cannabis as well as morphine, to help people in pain. Cannabis needs research for vital ingredients, but is easy to dose as it is, in its natural form, it has vast potential to bring down exploding drug costs in the NHS and should not be criminalised any longer. There are no victims for no crime."
Notes for the editor
Last month THC4MS, who provide cannabis chocolate for sufferers of multiple sclerosis were found guilty of supply.
Last week the Independent on Sunday revealed government plans to provide heroin on prescription for registered addicts.
Some 3 million plus cannabis users, many taking it to relieve pain and suffering, are asking the Government to consider the same rights for them to alleviate pain, without having to become criminals first.
Granny Tabram, providing that she does not get imprisoned on March 5th will speak at Green party Conference, Saturday 24.03.2007, 12 noon in Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, together with campaigners from all sides of the spectrum, the issue will be harm reduction, hemp awareness and the costs of prohibition.
For any photos and interviews, please contact the Green Party drugs spokesperson Shane Collins, or Ingo Wagenknecht, Legalise Cannabis Alliance spokesperson on the environment, through the Green Party press office. Alternatively, to speak to Granny Tabram, please attend Carlisle court on Monday 5th March.
