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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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My MS Gets Worse Without Cannabis
News and Star, Cumbria, UK Wednesday 27 Sep 2000 Pub date: Wednesday, 27 September 2000 ART: My MS Gets Worse Without Cannabis Web site: http://www.news-and-star.co.uk Contact: letters.carlisle@cumbrian-newspapers.co.uk MY MS GETS WORSE WITHOUT CANNABIS A MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer accused of possessing cannabis claimed her symptoms got worse when she couldn't take the drug. Lezley Gibson, of Front Street, Alston, told Carlisle Crown Court yesterday that the anxiety of not being able to maintain a regular supply caused her to relapse. "High levels of stress triggers attacks," she said. "My initial diagnosis came at a very stressful part of my life and since then it's been not being able to get hold of cannabis." Mrs Gibson, who was caught with £32 of the illegal drug last August, has pleaded not guilty to possession on the grounds that smoking "pot" is necessary to treat her condition. She told the court that for the first three years after being diagnosed in 1985 she regularly suffered muscle spasms that caused "excruciating" pain. Mrs Gibson, 36, told the court how repeated attacks of MS had caused paralysis, loss of balance and impaired vision. She said she fell down the stairs "every other week" and was in tears as she recalled being unable to run around with her daughter, now 14, when they went to the park. The court heard that Mrs Gibson was no longer allowed to use knives or cook food unsupervised. "I can burn myself and the only reason I know is because I can smell flesh," she said. Mrs Gibson said intravenous steroids prescribed after her first serious attack had "no effect" other than causing her weight to go up to 14 stones and leaving her "covered in spots". Earlier Clare Hodges, director of pressure group Action for Cannabis Therapeutics, claimed the drug was "the best substance [she had] come across" for treating the symptoms of MS. Graham Knowles, for the prosecution, claims the "necessity" defence must fail unless Mrs Gibson had reason to believe not taking cannabis would cause death or serious injury. The case continues.
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