CANNABIS
GRAN DOPING TO TAKE HAIN'S SEAT
Source: Wales on Sunday
Pub date: Sunday, April 11, 2005
Author: Mark Withers
Web: http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/
Pat Tabram http://www.ccguide.org/pattabram.php
Grandma Eats Cannabis http://www.grandma-eats-cannabis.com/
A GRANNY spared jail for cooking cannabis hotpots is to stand for
Parliament against Welsh Secretary of State Peter Hain.
Dope fan Patricia Tabram, 66, is running in the Commons Leader's Neath
constituency on a ticket of legalising the drug.
She was handed a suspended six-month sentence and ordered to pay £750
costs last week after admitting possession to supply.
But the grass-growing granny from Hexham, Northumberland, has vowed to
keep cooking cannabis casseroles and will face Mr Hain for the Legalise
Cannabis Alliance.
Although she is from North East England, the former restaurateur's late
husband David came from Swansea.
She said last night: "There are quite a lot of candidates standing
for the Alliance in Wales because the Welsh seem to know more of the facts and
the history of cannabis.
"In a 24-hour period I take a level teaspoon of powdered cannabis,
cut it with a knife and put a fifth into every meal or drink I have, like hot
chocolate, and that keeps me free of pain for the next 24 hours.
"If I'm voted for, I'm going to promise people in this country I
will fight for the rights of every man and woman to receive safe medication.
"It's going to be a hell of a long journey and I'll probably be
dead before we win the argument."
Grey-haired Mrs Tabram, who had always voted Lib Dem, started using
cannabis as a remedy for depression, pain caused by a car crash and ringing in
the ears.
She uses it in soup, cakes and casseroles and cooked it for pals
suffering ailments.
She is now writing a book, Grandma Eats Cannabis.
Mrs Tabram will travel to South Wales this week to begin her campaign
push.
Husband David worked in shipping and met Patricia after work took him to
Northumberland.
"If the rest of the Welsh people are as nice as the husband I
happened to get from Wales, then they will understand my concerns," she
said.
Mr Hain, below, last night dismissed his elderly rival's chances and
vowed to continue the war on drugs.
He said: "At the end of the day, this is an election that will
decide the future of Wales.
"It won't be decided on these fringe issues or affected by fringe
candidates.
"The Government takes the problem of drugs very seriously.
"The public are sick of drug-fuelled crime and the menace of crack
houses and dealers on our streets.
"This Government has no intention of softening the British drugs
laws," he added.