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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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I Smoke Dope to Kill My Pain Steven McKenzie Evening Express, Aberdeen Saturday 12 Jul 1997 A 44-year old woman today told of why she smokes cannabis to fight the pain of Multiple Sclerosis. And Karen Nicol, of Aberdeen, says she goes through hell every time she breaks the law to score ukp15-worth of the illegal drug from city dealers. She hopes that by speaking out more support will be given to the work of developing a legal marijuana-related painkiller. In particular, she wants to help the bid by Dr Roger Pertwee, of Aberdeen University, to get cash to fund clinical trials using cannabis. If the project goes ahead Karen says she would offer herself as a guinea pig during the tests. Through friends Karen buys the drug from dealers on the street. "I hate doing something illegal -- I am not doing this for fun but to relieve the pain," she said. She already forks out ukp20 a week for acupuncture sessions to relieve her illness. Speaking from her council house in Kincorth, the former well-paid oil firm worker added: "It is a nightmare worrying about taking cannabis and what might happen to my friends if they get caught helping me. "It was really hard trying to find someone who could supply me. I didn't want the whole wide world to know I was trying to get cannabis." Almost every evening for a year she has been smoking a joint to ease painful muscle spasms which rack her body. "Every day I take eight painkillers but they don't help me much. Cannabis makes me feel totally relaxed - the spasms leave my body, the pain goes away and I'm able to sleep," she added. A ukp15 score usually lasts the ex-data processing operations supervisor six weeks. "I have been able to get really good stuff, but occasionally I have had cannabis that has little effect", said Karen. MS has shattered her life and for the last four years it has confined her to a wheelchair and ruined her eyesight. Diagnosed as having the disease 11 years ago, she strongly supports Dr Pertwee's work developing a painkiller from a cannabis-related single compound. "I used to work, play squash, drive and go for walks. I can't do any of those things now," said Karen. "If everyone suffered MS for just one week they would know why I smoke cannabis." Meanwhile, Catherine Morgan, of the Stuart Resource Centre, funded by the Aberdeen multiple sclerosis Society said: "We can't recommend any of our members break the law. While here's anecdotal evidence to suggest cannabis helps... there have also been people who have experienced negative side effects. "The MS Society suggests further research be carried out."
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