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UK: MSP leads cannabis calls
BBC Online
Thursday 03 Jul 2003 Ministers are being urged to rethink their stance on the use of cannabis for medicinal use. The independent MSP, Margo MacDonald, wants the Scottish Executive to consider changing the law so that cannabis can legally be used by people with illnesses who claim the drug helps relieve pain. The call follows the trial of a woman from Orkney, multiple sclerosis sufferer Biz Ivol, who was accused of supplying the drug to other people with MS. Ms MacDonald has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament, saluting the campaign of Ms Ivol. 'Indignities and trauma' She told BBC Radio Scotland: "It has become absolutely clear that our drugs policies don't work. "I would separate cannabis from the other drugs, to try and set apart the kids who use it from the dealers who pedal the really dreadful stuff. "In terms of its use as pain relief, why on earth are we still forcing people like Biz Ivol to go through the indignities and the trauma that she has had to go through?" But health spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservatives, Nanette Milne, said the solution would come through medical research. She said: "I do sympathise with Ms Ivol, but there is a great deal of research going on at the moment to try and identify a cannabis derivative that can pass all the safety criteria tests to make it fit to be prescribed on the NHS. "And when that time comes, I hope it will be used for the relief of pain." Kevin Williamson, author of Drugs and the Party Line, supports Ms MacDonald's stance. He said: "We've had promises year after year about this and nothing seems to get done. "In Scotland we should take a stand on this issue and get right behind what Margo is putting forward. " A spokesman for the executive said: "Issues around drugs classification are reserved. This is therefore the responsibility of the UK Government and any separate consultation in Scotland on this issue would be a token one. Suspected overdose "On the medicinal potential of cannabis, the Home Office has already indicated that it would be prepared to approve the use of a cannabis based medicine if the required trials are deemed successful." On Wednesday the charges of supplying cannabis against Ms Ivol of were dropped by the Crown on the grounds of her health. The 55-year-old was disappointed as she had wanted to use the case to publicise her campaign for the legalisation of the drug. On Wednesday morning Ms Ivol was rushed to hospital in Stornoway suffering from a suspected drugs overdose. She had previously claimed that she would take her life once the trial was over and said she had already made arrangements for the funeral. MARGO MACDONALD'S MOTION The Scottish Parliament salutes the courage, integrity and tenacity of Biz Ivol in her campaign to change the laws on cannabis to enable MS sufferers like herself to legally use the substance for the relief of pain, regrets that the Crown Office judged her prosecution to be in the public interest when common sense and humanity dictate otherwise, and calls on the executive to instigate an immediate public consultation on changing the provisions of the criminal law of Scotland on the use of cannabis for the relief of pain.
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