DRUG POLICE RAID HOME OF CANNABIS SWEETS MS WOMAN

A MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer who makes cannabis-laced chocolates for others
with the condition has had her Orkney home raided by police.

Yesterday, Biz Ivol, 53, vowed to carry on her fight for the legalisation of
the drug.

Mrs Ivol said: "I've had so many phone calls from people who support me and
I now feel I've got my fighting spirit back. I'm determined to fight to the
bitter end for what I believe in."

She said officers took away a small amount of cannabis, several joints, a
cannabis plant, her computer, address book and campaign literature after
searching her home at Herston, South Ronaldsay.

The raid, involving four officers, followed publicity surrounding Mrs Ivol's
decision to make chocolates laced with cannabis available to fellow MS
sufferers across Britain.

She melts chocolate in a microwave, mixes in finely grated cannabis and
pours the mixture into the paper cases used for small cakes.

"I've sent out 30 parcels with a week's supply - seven of the sweeties - to
people all over the country," Mrs Ivol said. "Ninety five per cent of them
have gone to middle- aged women with MS. But one of the phone calls I had
after the raid was from a man in Scotland who has MS and whose legs are
paralysed.

"After taking the chocolates for five nights he had feeling in his legs
again for the first time in 12 years."

Mrs Ivol, who was diagnosed with the condition 10 years ago, began smoking
cannabis on her GP's advice to ease the pain.

Four years ago, after a previous police raid on her home, she was admonished
at Kirkwall Sheriff Court after admitting growing cannabis plants and
possessing the drug. It was the first case of its kind after the British
Medical Association called on courts to be compassionate when people -
including MS sufferers - use cannabis to ease pain.

Despite the experience of having to struggle into court on walking sticks,
Mrs Ivol carried on using cannabis herself and became a spearhead of the
campaign to legalise the medical use of the drug.

"The people I've sent the chocolates are utterly helpless," she said. "I
don't feel like a criminal - the only criminal is the government for
refusing to let us use something that really helps people with MS. I've
never taken any money for the cannabis chocolates. Some people have sent me
stamps and one old man with glaucoma sent me a cheque for £10 to help cover
my costs."

Police confirmed they had searched a house in Herston, South Ronaldsay,
under a warrant issued under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Kirkwall-based Inspector Paul Eddington said a number of items had been
seized and sent for analysis.

"After the outcome of that analysis, and other ongoing inquiries, we
anticipate a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal," he added.