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UK: MS sufferer: 'I'll smoke cannabis despite jail threat' (with Carl Wagner)
Huill Daily Mail Saturday 27 Apr 2013 She says she uses cannabis as medical relief from her condition, which sees her battle muscle spasms, headaches, bladder problems and tremors on a daily basis. Now, Susan has been told she will face a "much worse punishment" if she is caught possessing the Class B drug in the next six months. But the former Humberside Police special constable has said she will carry on smoking cannabis, regardless of the law. The mother of one, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 17 years ago, said: "I'm not going to stop doing it. "If I gave up cannabis, the results would be absolutely devastating. "I smoke it every day and it has helped me to live a relatively normal life. "It calms me down, relaxes my muscles, stops my shakes and helps keep my mild epilepsy under control." Susan, who is on daily medication and injections for her condition, branded her sentence "completely unjust". She said: "I have given so much to the community through my work as a special constable and I feel let down by the justice system. "It's as if I am being prosecuted for being ill." Susan, of Garrick Close, east Hull, was arrested on December 22 after her neighbours smelt the drug and alerted the police. It was the third time in nine months that police had raided her home and she had already received a warning and a caution. Representing her at Hull Magistrates' Court, Geoffrey Ellis, said: "Every so often, a case comes along that really shouldn't be in the court – and this is one of those cases. "This lady's condition causes her immense suffering and cannabis is one of the only treatments that actually helps. "This is criminalising somebody who is using the drug as medical relief." Mr Ellis also pointed out that cannabis-based substances are available through the NHS elsewhere. He said: "This lady's doctors are aware she is using the drug to self-medicate and they have not warned her against it. "The NHS won't prescribe it in this area as it is very expensive and they are reluctant to spend that amount of money on this type of drug." Susan was joined in court by nine campaigners for cannabis legalisation reform. One of them, Carl Wagner, branded the sentence a "disgrace". The father-of-six, 54, said: "Sue shouldn't have been prosecuted in the first place. "Everyone should have the right to use cannabis for medical purposes, especially people with severe, life-changing conditions like multiple sclerosis. "She should have received an absolute discharge and I think it's a disgrace that she didn't." "I don't understand how it can be in the public interest to arrest someone like Sue who needs cannabis to function properly." Sentencing Susan, magistrates' chair Anita Hall, said: "We have sympathy with the situation you are in. However, you have broken the law. "If you are found in possession of cannabis in the next six months, you will find yourself back here and the punishment will be much worse." Following angry cries from the public gallery, Ms Hall added: "We have been as understanding as we can within the law." "It could have been far worse, believe me." Susan, who claims disability benefits, was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victims' surcharge of £15. http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/MS-sufferer-ll-smoke-cannabis-despite-jail-threat/story-18822098-detail/story.html#axzz2croY6syA
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