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UK: Cannabis grandmother to fight on

Guardian Unlimited

Wednesday 07 Mar 2007

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A grandmother who "self medicates" with cannabis to ease her depression
has vowed to continue to use the drug in defiance of a judge's jail warning.

Patricia Tabram, 68, walked free from court despite a jury taking only
15 minutes to convict her of growing and possessing cannabis, but she
was ordered to carry out 250 hours community service and pay £1,000 costs.

It was her second drug conviction after she was given a suspended jail
sentence for supplying cannabis in curries, casseroles and cakes which
she distributed to other elderly and infirm people near her bungalow, in
Humshaugh, Northumberland.

Police and the Crown Prosecution Service backed the decision to take her
to court and she was warned she will be imprisoned if she continues to
flout the law.

But Tabram said: "I am still going to medicate with cannabis. This court
is not fit for purpose and I am taking up an appeal and putting in a
complaint about the fact I was not allowed to have a defence. The law
and justice do not exist in this country any more." Flanked by
well-wishers, said she would continue the fight and was prepared to go
to jail.

Carlisle Crown Court heard she used the drug to fight the depression she
has suffered since 1975 when she discovered her 14-year-old son dead in
his bed. She said that adding cannabis to a cup of hot chocolate gave
her five hours without pain. "Five hours - that is better than relief
you get from morphine," she said.

Judge Barbara Forrester told the grey-haired pensioner she accepted that
Tabram was only growing the drug for her personal use. Tabram never
denied having the drug, but wanted the jury to acquit her because of her
health needs. The judge told the jurors that medical necessity was no
defence. She had been given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two
years in April 2005.

But only five months later, officers acting on a tip-off raided her home
and found four cannabis plants growing in her wardrobe. The judge said
on Wednesday: "I am satisfied it is not necessary to impose a custodial
sentence, either immediate or suspended."

But she reminded the defendant: "Possession, cultivation or supplying
cannabis, or being concerned with any of those actions, except where
authorised, is a criminal offence which may lead to imprisonment."

The mother-of-three is a tenant of Milecastle Housing, which said it has
had several meetings with her about breaching her tenancy agreement. A
spokesman for the organisation said a meeting would be held after the
court case to decide whether she should be evicted.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6464177,00.html

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