|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
UK: Dope is my only hope
Lancashire Evening Post
Wednesday 09 Jul 2003 She says the only way she can ease the pain and make life bearable is to flout the law and smoke marijuana. Sybil is by no means the only one. She knows of a network of people in Preston like her from respectable backgrounds who, she says, smoke the drug for medicinal reasons. Today she tells her story to the Evening Post about how dope is giving her hope. "I'm breaking the law, but I'm not a criminal." Sybil Lucas-Brewer's words sum up her dilemma. To suffer the agony of a string of medical problems, or to numb the pain by using marijuana and openly breaking the law. The 48-year-old, of Lea, is a marijuana user and today defended her right to use the "God given herb". She also revealed that she was introduced to the benefits of the drug by a "granny" who gave her a drag of her joint in the grounds of a Lancashire hospital. She says she knows at least 30 people in the Preston area who use drugs for medical reasons and believes there could be hundreds more. Sybil, who is married with two children, today called for the legalisation of drugs for medical purposes and says the Government should stop denying those in desperate need. She said: "Medical marijuana, termed medi-weed, is far removed from the hard cannabis on the streets. Prohibition only serves to fuel the black market and gangster activity. "Grant those with a genuine need the right to self medicate." Sybil, who is afflicted with horrendous pain, has been diagnosed with rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis, chronic idiopathic angio-oedema, hypothyroidism and diabetes to name just a few. On many occasions, she has been left fighting for her life after reacting violently to the very drugs meant to alleviate her symptoms. Sybil said: "Sometimes, a particular medicine would help my terrible pain. But then I would suddenly develop an allergic reaction and suffer horrendous side-effects." It was while Sybil was in hospital at the age of 43 that an elderly woman gave her an insight into the healing powers of marijuana. "It was late at night a lady in her 80s sitting outside in her wheelchair. "I asked her what she was doing and she said, 'I'm smoking one my son's wacky baccy cigs.' "Her son was with her and he was a well-dressed professional. His love for his mother had spurred him on to get her marijuana so she could have a decent night's sleep. "She offered me a try and I had the most wonderful night's sleep I had had in ages." Sybil tried to get information from the Internet on how to grow the plant for her own needs. "I found one website and sent an e-mail explaining I was at the end of my tether with my medical problems. "A man replied to me and told me there were people who grew marijuana for people like me and he asked for proof of my medical conditions. After being satisfied I was genuine, he sent me a bag of marijuana." Sybil says she has never felt so healthy or pain-free. "I don't feel sick, have problems breathing or suffer adverse reactions. I am simply using a God-given plant to help my health. "I do not pay for the drug, I am sponsored by a grower who helps people with conditions like MS, cancer and arthritis. He does it out of compassion." Sybil is open with doctors about the use and while they don't condone it, they can see it helps her. "They may not all agree with the usage, but none can fail to notice the improvement.There are thousands of people in my situation and the Government is morally wrong to deny those in most need the basic human right of self medication. "We want to be free from being termed criminals. We want the secrets and lies to disappear." Police spokeswoman Supt Irene Curtis, said: "Until we receive Home Office guidance on reclassification, cannabis remains illegal and, if necessary, the police will take appropriate action in relation to persons who are found in possession of it." Dr Andy Howe, acting director of Public Health at Preston Primary Care Trust, said: "I know there are studies on the health affects of marijuana but I know of no evidence that it would help, and we would obviously advise against smoking because of its long-term side affects."
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!