BIZ GETS CANNABIS PACKAGES THROUGH THE POST

Orkney MS sufferer Biz Ivol is being sent free cannabis packages through
the post as a direct result of her efforts for legalisation of the drug.

The outspoken cannabis user is also sent free and anonymous envelopes
containing cannabis seeds.

Biz (52), from Herston in South Ronaldsay, said that she has eight
packages containing the drug stored in her freezer. "I am sending it out
as quickly as I am getting it," she said.

"The police are wasting their time trying to stop it. There are too many
people using it now to prosecute."

She continued: "There is never anything in the envelopes with the
cannabis, but a few days or weeks later I'll get a card saying 'I hope
it arrived'."

Biz Ivol and fellow Multiple Sclerosis sufferer Bill Reeve, from Burray,
are likely to have added to the number of people using cannabis, for
they send out information packs detailing information about the drug -
including how to get hold of it.

Biz, who has been outspoken about her personal cannabis use, says the
pack was as a result of the many phone calls received each week.

They have sent out hundreds of packs to sufferers of MS and other
diseases.

"Everybody seems to be in contact with each other now. There is a huge
network of people with MS, literally thousands, tens of thousands, who
are using it now," Biz added.

It also came to light in a phone call to Biz that it was possible to get
hold of cannabis seed from Kirkwall pet shop, Petmania.

"It is included in a bird seed," she said. "It is not illegal to buy
cannabis seed, it is just illegal once you put it in the soil."

However, pet shop owner Mr Alasdair Thom, said that while his suppliers
confirmed that bird mixes do contain cannabis seed, it is useless to
anyone who plans to grow it.

"It goes through a process which means it will not germinate," he said.

Biz also criticised people for "jumping on the bandwagon" and using the
law of necessity in court cases by people charged with supplying the
drug.

"Everybody seems to be using the law of necessity," Biz said, while
highlighting the recent court case in The Orcadian when an Orkney man
was found guilty of intending to supply cannabis resin. He maintained
that he used the drug to alleviate back pain.

The Home Office are among the hundreds who have requested the
information pack from Biz and Bill.

The Home Office became aware of Bill and Biz in a Christmas card sent
out by the couple, which highlighted their work for the legalisation of
the drug.

The cards were sent to numerous organisations and cabinet ministers,
including the Prime Minister Tony Blair, giving details of how to obtain
a pack.

In a reply to the card from the Home Office Action Against Drugs Unit,
they state: "The prohibition on the prescribing of cannabis hinges
directly on the fact that the medical benefits of the drug have not been
demonstrated.

"Whilst there is considerable anecdotal evidence of its medical benefits
in alleviating the symptoms of a number of medical conditions, such as
your own experience, there is little research-based evidence, and the
results of the research as has been carried out are inconclusive."

However the letter concludes that if trials into cannabis use are
successful and lead to a medical preparation which is approved by the
Medicines Control Agency, the Government has said they will be willing
to prescribe it.

Biz said the Government were using a delaying tactic, as research has
been going on since the 1970s into the use of cannabis.

"As long as the MPs are in the pockets of the drug companies they will
try and delay legalisation. The brewers don't want it to happen as it
would mean people were using cannabis instead of drinking," she said.

*The Belgian Cabinet have approved the decriminilisation of personal
consumption of cannabis within the past few weeks.

Under the plan, it will no longer be illegal to grow, import or consume
cannabis for personal consumption.