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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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MS woman caught in drug raid ordeal Victoria Brenan News & Star, Carlisle Tuesday 31 Aug 1999 Cumbria: Prospective MP backs case for cannabis legalisation By Victoria Brenan The Cumbrian secretary of a prospective MP who is calling for the legalisation of cannabis faces an anxious wait to see if she faces charges for possessing the drug. Undercover officers raided the home of 35-year-old Lezley Gibson, of Alston, on Friday afternoon and seized eight grams of cannabis leaf. Mrs Gibson, who has made no secret of the fact she uses the drug to alleviate MS, is now waiting to see if she will be summonsed to appear in court. "I've been using cannabis for 13 years," she said. "I was very angry that they came into my home and I resent being treated like a criminal. Everyone knows what I do - I've never tried to hide it - and there was no need for them to go through all my stuff." Mrs Gibson works for Carlisle-based Colin Paisley, who recently announced he had been asked to stand as an MP in Wigan, under the banner of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance. He is also the Liberal Party's national spokesman for drugs and northern co-ordinator for Transform - the campaign for effective drugs policies. He pledged to stand by Mrs Gibson and went to Carlisle police station with her yesterday morning when she was interviewed by detectives. Mrs Gibson said she was made aware of a surveillance operation on her house last week, after neighbours spotted police and called her while she was on holiday in Holand. One of her friends, Chris Kramer, phoned the News and Star from Holland yesterday to protest against the police raid. "Lezley has been treated like a criminal," she said. "I think it's terrible, and a waste of public money. The drug laws in England are totally screwed up." Ms Kramer, who classed herself as a 'cannabis exile', said she was tempted into taking amphetamines in England because the only dealers she could buy cannabis from were always pushing something else. "I feel Lezley's been victimised for being honest about what she does." Colin Paisley said: "The file has been sent to the CPS to see if it's in the public interest to proceed. "Lezley was a bit tired today because she isn't able to use her normal medication. She's back taking prescribed valium which is much worse."
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