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UK: Legalise drug to ease my plight - MS victim
Sarah Stack The Grimsby Telegraph
Thursday 25 Oct 2001 A Cleethorpes multiple sclerosis sufferer who uses cannabis to help her through her illness has welcomed news that the drug may be legalised for medicinal purposes. Maggie Gorbutt was diagnosed with MS IN 1987. The wheelchair-bound mother-of-two, who lives with her husband Don in Loveden Court, first took cannabis almost four years ago. She finds cannabis - whether smoked or eaten - helps her control her bladder. "With MS, you never know when you have to go to the bathroom, but taking cannabis once or twice a week makes me not so desperate to go," she said. "I am all for cannabis to be legalised for medicinal use. "People will always debate it, but there are two sides to every story." Britain's cannabis laws look set to be relaxed next spring under proposals announced by the Home Secretary David Blunkett. He said the drug should be reclassified as a Class C drug and proposed, if current clinical trials are successful, that cannabis-based prescription drugs could be used to combat conditions such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis. Mr Gorbutt, who also uses cannabis to relax after looking after his wife, said: "With my wife having MS, I read a lot about it and saw cannabis could benefit her. "What it is supposed to do for people with MS is help their bladders and it can also relax those who get spasms or who may be in pain. "Cannabis is more commonly used than some people believe and like any drug, it can be abused. But it has never killed anybody." Multiple sclerosis is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system in young adults, with an estimated 2,500,000 people in the world having it. Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell has been campaigning for more than 10 years to have the drug legalised for medicinal use. But he said it could take three years for local suffers to benefit from the change in law. "Demoting cannabis from being a dangerous drug is a sensible move and it is sensible to reduce the punishment for it," said Mr Mitchell. "Cannabis is not addictive, is not heavily damaging like hard drugs and also takes hold of police time. But it helps people who suffer from multiple sclerosis and also arthritis." Mr Mitchell, who has held meetings with the Home Office and Department of Health on the issue, said a crop of cannabis is now being grown and research is taking place as to the therapeutic benefits for the suffers. Gordon Clarke, deputy chief constable of Humberside Police, said the force had noted the statement made by the Home Secretary in relation to drugs law. He said: "It is clear he is seeking further expert advice before progressing this issue and we anticipate being part of the wider debate through our membership of local Drug Action Teams. "Humberside Police recognises the importance of a co-ordinated response to drugs issues through partnerships with other agencies such as the Drug Action Teams, health and education agencies."
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