Medical Cannabis Awareness Day
24th May 2006
Medical cannabis patients, campaigners and experts were joined on Wednesday 24th May 2006 by MP's , Lords and Ladies to put pressure on the Government
The event was organised by supporters of the Cannabis Education Trust which is calling for an end to the "interminable" Government delays in licensing Sativex ( a cannabis-based mouth spray) which has been proved to help those suffering from MS, HIV and Cancer.
They are also calling for medical cannabis clinics run by experts that would supply a wide range of cannabis- based medical preparations including 'hemp cream' and organic herbal cannabis.
"We need to compliment the NHS with a Natural Healing Service in order to utilise the unique therapeutic benefits of the cannabis plant". (Andy Cornwell Cannabis Education Trust spokesperson 25/5/06)
The event was organised by - The Cannabis Education Trust
Don Barnard of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance met his MP Brooks Newmark (Con Braintree Essex) to ask his support.
Books said - Whilst He did not feel qualified to give an opinion, he was sympathetic to the use of cannabis based substances for pain relief, BUT he was unable to support the cause until a safe form of deliver for cannabiniods had been established by the (MHRA).
**he strongly felt that it was not an issue which should be left to the weathervane of public opinion, which is often in favour of things which our society is better of without!
Don suggested that Brooks was either not informed or ill-informed (as the case may be) and offered to help educating him . Brooks accepted the offer.
The Medical Cannabis Awareness Day began at 10am with an all day demonstration at Parliament Square.
At 1pm, Labour MP's Paul Flynn and Brian Iddon accompanied a group who delivered a petition to the door of 10 Downing Street.
Lady Jenny Tonge spoke out about several issues including the need to get the tabloid press on the side Jenny said "If we could get them on side, it would be possible to change many minds sensibly. " Jenny warn though, as she found in her own case that the 'wrath of one’s peers in parliament may rain down on you too, if you dare to challenge current international drug policies!'
David Shayler , (ex-MI5 Whistleblower) responded to Jenny’s comments reminding the assembled gathering that should the "Daily Mail" or whomever choose to support this cause, they would probably also find themselves threatened with retrieval of advertising space by the pharmaceutical companies who pay them an abundance to advertise their products in their paper. He also informed the group that MI6 makes a third of its funding by voicing its commitment to tracking down national and international illegal drug traffickers.
Also present were delegates calling for the CPS to stop the case of the THC4MS Three but due to time did not get to speak.
An
LCA leaflet calling on the jurors to be informed of the powers invested in them
when deliberating cannabis cases was widely distributed.
Further commentary photos on the event here
The Petitioners were lead by Pat Tabram a Grandmother who self-medicates with natural cannabis bud in her food as an alternative to using pharmaceutical medicine. They called on the Prime Minister to "stop the prosecution of medical cannabis users and suppliers and to consider what is really in the best public interest."
At 3 PM A packed committee room at the House of Commons yesterday several Lords, Ladies , MPs and press – more than is usually the case at most All Party Parliamentary Groups on Drugs meetings… heard evidence from a number of medical cannabis users, practitioners, herbalists, and experts in the field and experienced unique first hand testimonies from those who use cannabis-based medicine in the form of creams, tinctures, massage oils and who also vaporise or ingest cannabis to treat a wide range of acute conditions.
Pat Tabram a Grandmother who self-medicates with natural cannabis bud in her food as an alternative to using pharmaceutical medicine. (Pat is awaiting trail for cultivating cannabis) said: " I will plead Not Guilty when I return to Court. I am not guilty of anything and I will fight this cause until I die for the many thousands who need this medicine today and will do in the future."
Adria efthimiou - A representative from the John Mordaunt Trust spoke up about the many ways in which ex/current illegal drug users have benefited from the use of this drug including staying off daily heroin and/or cocaine use by the modest use of regular amounts of cannabis.
She said that we must talk about this. Why don’t we: it’s happening all over the world. She also pointed out that "we" drug dependent people are no different than anybody else in many ways; we must work together to end the insanity of our current war on drugs. It is the prohibition of heroin and other drugs that places users of these substances at great risk, including her own experience of selling sex (when she was junk-sick) as a younger woman.
Don Barnard of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance Said: "That this is not just about the medical issues. "I use cannabis because I like it, Said Don... and one of the side effects is, it helps with the pain of my arthritis."
"The LCA wanted nothing short of full legalisation" he said. However whilst this is being discussed he supported any move to stop treating people who use grow cannabis without harming others as criminals"
"Don said: "Everyone should educate themselves by looking at both sides any argument before taking a firm stance - "Not knowing only causes confusion" he said..."Reclassifying cannabis a prime example, look at the hash government made of that."
