CANNABIS
GRAN'S ELECTION CHALLENGE
Source: Manchester Evening News, UK
Pub date: Sunday, 10th April 2005
Subj: Cannabis gran's election challenge
Web: http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/s/154/154237_cannabis_grans_election_challenge.html
Cited: Legalise
Cannabis Alliance http://ww.lca-uk.org
Pat Tabram http://www.ccguide.org.uk/pattabram.php
Grandma Eats Cannabis http://www.grandma-eats-cannabis.com/
A GRANDMOTHER who was spared jail after cooking up treats laced with
cannabis for friends and neighbours plans to stand against House of Commons
leader Peter Hain in the election, it has emerged.
Patricia Tabram, who prides herself on her home-made herbal cookies,
casseroles and soups, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply from
her home in East Lea, Humshaugh, near Hexham, Northumberland.
The sprightly 66-year-old had cooked up treats laced with the drug for
neighbours and friends in her village after being introduced to it last year.
Mrs Tabram admitted buying the cannabis in bulk for herself and four friends -
who all take the drug to relieve medical problems.
The grandmother told Wales on Sunday newspaper how she plans to stand
against the Secretary of State for Wales in his Neath constituency for the
Legalise Cannabis Alliance.
She told the newspaper: "There are quite a lot of candidates
standing for the Alliance in Wales because the Welsh seem to know more of the
facts and the history of cannabis."
Medication
She added: "If I'm voted for, I'm going to promise people in this
country I will fight for the rights of every man and woman to receive safe
medication. It's going to be a hell of a long journey and I'll probably be dead
before we win the argument."
Mrs Tabram has become something of a celebrity in recent months. She has
continued to use cannabis, claiming it relieves her medical problems and has
none of the side-effects of NHS drugs.
From her remote bungalow in
rural Northumberland, Tabram has continued to cook, making her chicken and leek
pies, curries, beef casseroles, chocolate cakes and biscuits - all laced with
the illegal herb.
The greying and spectacled grandmother began cooking regularly for
friends, who all suffer similar medical problems to her. The unrepentant
pensioner has also written a book called Grandma Eats Cannabis and hopes to
have it
published.
Mr Hain responded: "At the end of the day, this is an election that
will decide the future of Wales."