UK News
British grandmother fined for using cannabis as medicine (Roundup)
Mar 7, 2007, 16:27 GMT
London - A British grandmother who used cannabis to alleviate depression and pain was Wednesday fined 1,000 pounds (1,930 dollars) and ordered to do 250 hours of community service.
Sixty-eight-year-old Patricia Tabram, who defended herself at the trial at Carlisle Crown Court in northern Britain, was found guilty of possessing and cultivating the drug, which is classified an illegal substance in Britain.
But in a defiant statement outside court, Tabram said: 'I'm still going to medicate with cannabis. No justice has been done.'
Tabram, who grew cannabis plants in her walk-in wardrobe at home in Humshaugh, Northumberland, said she would be 'prepared to go to prison' in protest against the 'draconian' drug laws.
Commenting on the 250 hours of service she will have to do for the community, she said: 'I think I can manage that.' But the fine, she added, was unfair.
Tabram, an avid campaigner for the medical use of cannabis, said that conventional medicine made her feel 'suicidal' and would not ease her pain.
But judge Barbara Forrester told the jury that medical necessity was not a legal defence available to the defendant, nor was ignorance of the law.
The judge warned that Tabram could face prison if she continued to put cannabis in her foods, cakes, and drinks.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
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Since taking cannabis will inevitably lead to harder drugs such as crack and heroin she should be glad as £1000 would buy enough to become truly an addict.However she could then get her drugs free from the doctor so she would save money in the long run.
If she keeps on taking cannabis she is of course bound to move onto cocaine,crack and heroin.This will happen sooner if put into prison where hard drugs are freely available and used as they leave the blood stream clean unlike cannabis.She should move to belgium or australia where cultivation for personal use is allowed.Thank god for the police having enough resources to stamp down hard on Granny.I am sure there is no gangsta dealing in london,who would you prefer to arrest?
Patricia Tabram is absolutely right. The Law against the use of cannibis is draconian. Cannibis is a natural substance that can relax and calm people and in the case of this lady significantly reduce the pain she would otherwise be experiencing. What was the alternative for this woman? Chemical drugs that made her depressed and exaggerated her health problems? The ignorance of Law-makers about cannibis is, in my opinion, inexcusable. The Drug is comparatively harmless, with little, to no detrimental effect on the the Nation health service and society as a whole. Considering that Alcohol fuelled antisocial behaviour and Acolhol related disease cast a visable shadow over british society, does is seem logicical that a drug with so few negative effects when used properly is criminalised as it is? I don't think so.
Cannibis its true can present a risk when used excessively over a period if time, of paranoia and psychosis, People do need to be aware of this risk when using cannibis and take responsibility for the way they use it. However people must in the same way be aware of the effects of excessive alcohol consumption. The main thing is that people must take responsibilty for there own health and always consider the cost of overindulgence. But people should also have freedom to choose. Patricia has the right to medicate herself, and cannibis users everywhere have the right to enjoy this substance just as the 'law-abiding' have to right to enjoy alcchol.
If the only
Paul,
I sincerely hope that you are being facetious. Everything that you posted can be discounted by modern science and by psychological professionals. To assert that a 68 year old woman using marijuana will inevitably use crack, et al., is completely preposterous. The 'gateway' theory is outmoded and the public, regardless of which country you live in, should be educated on the depravity and pain of elders and the medical necessity of alleviating such pain.
The sentence, while draconian, is still indicative of the work that needs to be done in respect to education. I sure hope she can appeal.
use of cannabis does not lead to the use of other drugs. thank you.
Ive been tokeing for 30 years now, any idea when this gatway opens ?
Why is an unrefined natural 'herb' banned for personal use as a pain killer/relaxant where as all the crap we're fed in medication and even our children's drinks are legal? Every parent knows what those E-Numbers and Sugar can send children into a drug like trance.
Apart from anything, 2 men walk down the street, one punches starts screaming abuse at someone and eventually punches them. Have they been taking canabis or alcohol?
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out of touch with the publicMar 7th, 2007 - 17:22:02
Would the judge have given the same sentance if he too had an ilness that could be alleviated by medicinal use of cannabis, and would he then have been so trite as to say medical neccesity is not a defence? I think not. Mind you if the defendent had been driving a stolen uninsured car, under the influence of drink and drugs, then killed an innocent road user she might then have expected to get a lesser sentance and all the help and support she could ever hope for.
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