Source: Press & Journal

Author: David Hartley

Date: 19 Feb 2002

ORKNEY multiple sclerosis sufferer Biz Ivol yesterday urged the Government to press ahead with moves to allow the use of cannabis derivatives as painkillers.

Mrs Ivol, 54, of Herston. South Ronaldsay, has used the drug since 1996 to relieve the agony she suffers as a result of the condition.

She welcomed an announcement by Health Minister Lord Hunt, which could see cannabis-based painkillers being made available on prescription from the NHS within two years.

"If these pharmaceuticals are licensed for medical use, it is of critical importance that NICE guidance is in place for the clinicians who will have to make decisions about their use," the minister added.

Mrs Ivol, who was diag-nosed with the condition 11 years ago, began smoking cannabis on her GP's advice to ease pain she described as feeling like barbed wire being dragged through her back.

She said the Government announcement was an exciting development and called for cannabis-based painkillers to be made available as soon as possible.

"It would be absolutely wonderful to use a medicine that works and has no side effects," Mrs Ivol said.

"It would also be great that the dose would be just right every time you used it. At the moment it's trial and error, because each time you use cannabis it's a different strength from the time before.

"So it would be lovely to be able to use a something that is properly regulated and with no fear of the police knocking on your door."

Mrs Ivol, who has been confined to a wheelchair since October, receives many phone calls each day from people with MS and other conditions seeking advice about using the drug.

"I must have received around 2,000 calls in the last six months," she added. "It's about time it was legalised for people with conditions like MS."