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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Judge Blames Cannabis For Fatal Stabbing
Don Barnard Press Release
Monday 02 Dec 2002 CANNABIS BLAMED FOR FATAL STABBING From the Gloucester Citizen [UK] http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk 30 November 2002: A top judge and an eminent psychiatrist have both blamed cannabis after a Gloucestershire mother of six admitted stabbing her partner to death. [Gloucester Crown Court on Friday November 29 2002]: Psychiatrist Dr Jacqueline Short told the court "The defendant has been an habitual cannabis user for a very long time and this compounded her mental difficulties. It is a contributing factor in this case." Recorder of Bristol Judge Tom Crowther QC, said: "The medical evidence in this case makes it clear the long-term smoking of cannabis is dangerous." "Detective Sergeant Kevin Baggus said "It is a very sad case and from one rash action brought on by a history of psychotic illness Mr Smith's family had lost a son, his children a father and Kelly a partner." Full report from the http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/index.jsp if you have difficulties try: http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=5836 Legalise Cannabis Alliance Spokesperson Don Barnard said: Whether cannabis is dangerous or not, one thing is clear - Cannabis being illegal did not prevent this happening! "Why did it take the death of Kelly's husband for her to get treatment ..... "especially, since the Local Mental Health Team, Maternity Hospital and the Social Services Child Protection Unit were all presumably aware of her extra needs to cope with her life! Kelly first developed symptoms of mental illness when her mother died in 1999, had previously been admitted to a mental institution. She had given birth to premature child 5 days prior to killing her husband? Don said: "Pre-natal depression is a known mental illness which manifests itself in some mothers killing their new born, could this not have been a contributory factor in this case".... "Had she killed her child people would be screaming for a public enquiry! Constantly wringing her hands, staring at photographs of dead relatives, a constant phobia that her partner was trying to gas them all? Don said: "All these are clear signs that something was not right - including symptoms of mental illness such psychosis? Recorder Judge Tom Crowther QC blames it on cannabis: "The medical evidence in this case makes it clear the long-term smoking of cannabis is dangerous."? Mr Barnard admits there is some evidence that cannabis use by people predisposed to mental illness can bring on bouts of psychosis or escalate problems, but these occurrences are very rare..."Judge Tom Crowther should seek Dr Shorts help with his cannabis phobia " NOTE - JOURNALISTS/RESEARCHERS: Links to many of these documents [see Ed's notes 1] "I would respectfully suggest the failure of the NHS Mental health Team and other Statutory Authorities to help Kelly cope with her stress, the most common cause of metal illness, was the over-riding factor in this case, rather than whether she smoked cannabis or not...."I wish her a speedy recovery. The unanswered question is " If cannabis was the cause! Would a legal regulated control of cannabis made it less likely to happen? NOTE: Previous related Press Release Friday 22 Nov 2002 What is the truth about cannabis? http://www.lca-uk.org/displayitem.php?articleid=757 This may also relevant to tomorrows debate on the Criminal Justice Bill. The Legalise Cannabis Alliance Cyfreithloni Cannabis Cyfathrach A registered UK political party. PO Box 198, Norwich NR3 3WB email lca@lca-uk.org http://www.lca-uk.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: 1] The three latest BMJ studies: http://www.ukcia.org/research/SelfReportedCannabisUseAsAFactorForSchizophren ia.pdf http://www.ukcia.org/research/CannabisUseInAdolescenceAndRiskForAdultPsychos is.pdf http://www.ukcia.org/research/CannabisUseAndMentalHealthInYoungPeople.pdf more can be found at ukcia research library - http://www.ukcia.org/research 2] See what Mind (mental health charity) have to say about cannabis: http://www.mind.org.uk/information/factsheets/C/The_Psychological_Effects_of _Cannabis.asp 3] Mental illness and cannabis http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread14852.shtml Often quoted, in many papers, which make the claim that cannabis causes mental illness are the same as could be expected in a normal population. i.e. 1 to 2% . As one critic says: "Dr. Reynolds said he had questions about the study's findings. He said the number of people in the study said to be suffering from mental illness because of smoking marijuana was not much different from the normal baseline rate for mental illness." Of 4,045 people 55 became ill. One third used cannabis. But it matters not whether all or none were cannabis users because the numbers are within the normal spread. Also of note is the quote: "a large percentage of the mentally ill use tobacco". "The incidence of cigarette smoking is significantly higher in persons with serious mental illness then in the general population. Would you conclude that tobacco causes serious mental illness?" he said. "What we have found is that tobacco does not cause mental illness, but it may help relieve some of the symptoms of serious mental illness." end
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