LEGALISE CANNABIS SAYS MEP

Cannabis should be legalised for victims of cancer and multiple sclerosis.

This is the belief of Oldham Euro MP Chris Davies who has accused Jack
Straw on cruelty towards sufferers.

The Liberal Democrat claims that the Home Secretary can not go on refusing
to acknowledge the benefits that seriously ill people can gain from using
the drug for pain relief.

He spoke out after a Manchester father of three was prosecuted for
possession of cannabis.

The defendant is incurably ill with multiple sclerosis and claims to take
the drug for relief of the symptoms.

Mr Davies, who lives in Greenfield, said, "Time after time juries refuse to
convict people in the same position as this man, yet still the Home
Secretary refuses to see sense.

"Jack Straw's refusal to act on the medical evidence already available to
him is nothing less than an act of cruelty".

Mr Davies said he now hopes a new Home Secretary, who is more sympathetic
to cancer and MS patients, will be appointed after the next election.

He also claimed most governments across Europe agree with him, pointing out
that cannabis possession for personal use is no longer a criminal offence
in Holland. Belgium and Switzerland have indicated they too intend to
adopt the same policy.

Mr Davies added:"There is no evidence that cannabis use has ever killed anyone.

"It is a much less dangerous drug than alcohol, and governments across
Europe are now changing their policies to reflect this reality."