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UK: MPs renew attack on cannabis law

Michael Kallenbach

The Telegraph

Wednesday 10 Jan 2001

SEVERAL MPs yesterday put renewed pressure on the Government to speed up the legalisation of cannabis for health purposes.

Peter Bradley (Lab, The Wrekin) spoke passionately about a constituent who was formerly an undercover drugs officer, but had to scour the streets for cannabis to relieve the pain of multiple sclerosis. She was a victim of an injustice and not a criminal. "It was her job to pursue and to lock up the people who peddled drugs. Now, she is out on the streets seeking to secure the only relief that she can have for the pain." People with the disease were the "victims of the torment of MS. They should not be made to be victims of an injustice."

Later, outside the Commons, Mr Bradley named the woman as Kate Bradley, no relation, from Donnington, near The Wrekin. Until recently she was in the West Midlands police force.

Gisela Stuart, a junior health minister, speaking during Health Questions, offered little comfort. The Government would only change its mind after clinical evidence, expected in 2003, she told the House. "The possession of cannabis is against the law for good scientific reasons in terms of acute and chronic health effects." Mrs Stuart said she felt for any patient who was suffering and felt that an effective medicine was not available, but added: "As in any chronic illness it is very important to evaluate the benefits and risks of treatment."

Paul Flynn (Lab, Newport W) said cannabis had been tested for 5,000 years in every continent by millions of people and not had any serious side effects. "One hundred members of this House, the majority of the BMA, the House of Lords Select Committee, all agree that natural cannabis should be used now medicinally. This policy is stupid and cruel."

Dafydd Wigley (Plaid Cymru, Caernarfon) said: "Is it not now time for the Government to make more rapid progress on this in order to relieve these people of the worries that they may be breaking the law?"

 

 

 

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