|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
UK: North Staffordshire campaigners back proposal to legalise medicinal cannabis (CISTA)
The Sentinel, Stoke-on-Trent Tuesday 23 Jun 2015 Liberal Democrat peer Lord Brian Paddick, the party's home affairs spokesman in the House of Lords and a former police officer, has tabled a series of amendments to the Government's psychoactive substances bill which will be debated by the Lords tomorrow. The Lib Dems want to see users of even the most potent class A substances – including heroin and cocaine – freed from the threat of police action if caught. And the party also argues for the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal use, complaining that pot-smoking pain sufferers are forced to become 'drug smugglers' on trips to the famously weed-friendly Netherlands. Now campaigners and cancer sufferers in North Staffordshire are backing the proposals. Ali Majid, co-ordinator for the Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol party for the Midlands, stood as the Stoke-on-Trent Central parliamentary candidate at the General Election in a bid to get the issue in the public eye. The 24-year-old, of Hanley, said: "I love the fact the Lib Dems are putting this forward. It's great they're creating awareness. Look at what's going on in other countries and states. "Fifty-seven per cent of the population voted for legalisation in Colorado, for example. The fact is, it's slowly starting to become more of an issue and people are looking at the actual science behind cannabis as a medicine instead of the propaganda, and that's great." One person who believes he has benefited from using cannabis oil for medicinal purposes is David Hibbitt, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in July 2012. He took the drastic decision to stop having chemotherapy because of the devastating side effects and began taking the oil in the hope it would save his life. The father-of-one is currently cancer-free and looking to the future. The 33-year-old has also collected 4,500 signatures on an online petition to get a by-law passed for people with terminal cancer to be able to legally use cannabis oil. David, of Silverdale, said: "I think it's crazy, incredible even, that cannabis is not available for medicinal use. It doesn't make sense to me when it could help so many people. "Obviously there are side effects with cannabis too – and medicinal and recreational are two different things – but the same goes for any painkiller. "Only time will tell how much it helped me and what must be made clear is it's not a miracle cure for Stage 4 cancers. "But I've heard Cannabidiol is helping epilepsy patients in other countries, and if it's helping people, why are governments turning their backs on it?" Former drug dealer Darren Murinas, who used cannabis for nearly 20 years, is also backing legalisation. The 43-year-old, of Meir, said: "It's a tricky one. I took cannabis at first, then other drugs would be available through those outlets. If it was legalised like in Amsterdam, maybe I wouldn't have accessed those other drugs. "I think it's a good idea. The research I've read and seen would suggest there's value in the legalisation of the drug for medicinal use. I also think decriminalising the possession charge is correct. To turn someone into a criminal someone for a small amount of possession is wrong. I thought it was making me feel better, but I realised it made my depression a lot worse." According to Lord Paddick, decriminalising personal possession would free up police, resources, ensure addicts receive treatment and educate social users. He said: "When I was a police officer, I realised that locking up drug users is simply not the answer. There can be absolutely no justification for seriously ill people, prescribed medicine by a doctor, to be forced to become drug smugglers." However, drugs campaigner Kathy Gyngell, from the Centre for Policy Studies, said the plans were 'dangerous and irresponsible'. http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/North-Staffordshire-campaigners-proposal-legalise/story-26752819-detail/story.html
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!