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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Disabled gran fights cannabis conviction Sue Restan Press & Journal, Aberdeen Thursday 26 Jun 2003 A DISABLED Highland grandmother who claims to use cannabis as a painkiller is appealing against her conviction for possessing the drug. Victoria Hodgson, 50, was fined £75 after being found guilty of possessing 2g of the drug when she appeared at Dornoch Sheriff Court on Tuesday. Mrs Hodgson, of 127 Clachtoll, Lochinver, pleaded not guilty to possessing cannabis resin in a car at Lairg Road, Bonar Bridge, on October 31 last year on the grounds of necessity. It was explained that she needed the drug to alleviate severe back and neck pain caused by thoracic scoliosis, a form of curvature of the spine, and disc degeneration in her neck, commonly known as wear and tear arthritis. She said that if she did not use cannabis, her condition worsened to such an extent that she would be admitted to hospital in severe pain. Her solicitor, Duncan Henderson, of Craig Wood Solicitors, Inverness, yesterday confirmed that she had instructed the firm to appeal against her conviction. He said he did not consider it appropriate to discuss the grounds of the appeal at this time. But during Mrs Hodgson's trial, he pointed out that she may not have been convicted in England. Mr Henderson said: "The English and Scottish interpretations of necessity seem to sit uncomfortably at the moment. "It is certainly the case that there have been a number of trials in England that have led to acquittal, basically on these grounds." Mrs Hodgson, who has two children and two grandchildren, told the court she had tried all legal forms of treatment, but they had either failed to have any effect or had caused nasty side effects, including stomach pain and vomiting. The court heard that she needed special pillows at night and could not travel far as a result of her physical problems. "I can't walk, sit down, eat, sleep. It just completely consumes my life and makes my life unbearable," Mrs Hodgson told the court. She said she usually took cannabis in a hot milky drink as a painkiller before going to bed and stressed that she had never used it for recreational purposes. Mrs Hodgson receives a disability element with her Income Support as a result of her condition. She added that she has now applied to take part in the Home Office licensed trials of the drug for pain relief to be carried out by G W Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The court also heard social anthropologist Neil Montgomery explain that the latest clinical trials of medicinal use of cannabis had, shown a 90 % success rate for pain relief and the management of acute pain. But Sheriff David Sutherland said he did not feel the defence of necessity had been established. He convicted her of the offence and fined her £75. After the hearing, Mrs Hodgson, who has a previous conviction for possession of a small amount of cannabis, said she could not afford to pay the fine and would probably have to go to prison.
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