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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Blair Urges Sympathy Over Orkney Cannabis Case
David Perry Press & Journal, Aberdeen
Thursday 04 Jul 2002 Prime Minister Tony Blair last night urged prosecution authorities on Orkney to be "sympathetic" to MS sufferer Biz Ifol, facing criminal charges for cultivating, using and supplying cannabis. Mr Blair was replying to a question in the Commons from Orkney and Shetland Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael who drew his attention to the plight of the MS sufferer. Mrs Ifol has been ordered to attend court on July 16 to face a charge of growing, possessing and supplying cannabis. She claims she had only supplied it to other MS sufferers. Mr Carmichael asked: "Does the Prime Minister really believe that the war against drugs is going to be won by making a criminal of a 54-year- old woman who has led another wise blameless life and who is now confined to a wheelchair?" He wanted to know when the Government was going to legalise the medicinal use of the drug and end such "nonsensical" prosecution. Mr Blair, during Prime Minister's Question Time, said he understood Mr Carmichael's concern. He said: "As you probably know, we are reviewing this very issue now between cannabis and people with diseases such as MS. "We are not in a position yet to say what the findings of that review are, but we are looking at it. "We do understand there is a potential distinction between those who need it for medicinal purposes and those who don't and I am sure that people will take a sympathetic view of the particular position of your constituent, though of course this must remain a matter for the authorities and not the Government." Mrs Ifol, however, brushed aside Mr Blair's sympathy. She said: "The Prime Minister did not say anything new. He did not commit himself to actually legalising cannabis. It was just a waste of time." She said she did not think much of his sympathy, because clinical trials had been going on since 1972 to no effect, adding that she did not think the procurator fiscal in Kirkwall would take any notice of what Mr Blair had said. However, Mr Carmichael said the Prime Minister's answer was useful because it did indicate a degree of sympathy and the intention that there was something in the pipeline by way of a change of Government policy. He said: "It may well be that the procurator fiscal could have another look at whether it is appropriate for the prosecution to continue, but I make no criticism of her because the law is the law."
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