CANNABIS TO GO ON SALE FOR SICK PEOPLE

Campaigner unveils Britain's first "official" illegal drugs network

Britain's first official network to supply sick people with marijuana has
been launched.

Colin Davies last week set up a non-profit making operation to grow and
sell the drug. He was cleared of growing cannabis in his home earlier this
year after claiming he used it to ease back pain, and hopes the launch of
the network will highlight the need for a change in the law to allow
marijuana to be used as a legitimate pain reliever.

At the moment, however, the 40-year-old father of two from Stockport,
Greater Manchester; risks prosecution. "After my case in June, I received
letters from all around the country from people who were sick and dying,"
he said, "I realised how bad things were out there and how we treat our
sick as criminals. The law needs redressing to ensure that patients and
their primary care workers who obtain and use marijuana for medical
purposes are not subject to criminal prosecution."

Mr Davies launched the network just weeks before the House of Lords
Committee on Science and Technology publishes its report into the medicinal
uses of cannabis. He based the co-operative on one in Los Angeles and
already has the public backing of three multiple sclerosis sufferers. "We
are all people who are vulnerable and at risk," said Andrew Coldwell, of
Huddersfield, who has been smoking cannabis for seven years to relieve the
symptoms of MS. "We have a genuine desire to secure our medication without
resorting to lining the pockets of so-called drug barons. We want to make
this drug available to people who need it to maintain their quality of
life." Hamish Crisp, 44, of Edinburgh, was diagnosed with MS nine years ago
and consumes seven grams of cannabis every three weeks. He said: "I hope
this will enable people to have some confidence in the purity of the
substance we are consuming and prevent us from associating with a criminal
underclass in which we patently do not belong.

"The continued apparent unwillingness of the government seems to leave us
with little choice." Mr Davies said the co-operative will grow marijuana at
a secret location which will be supplied on a non-profit making basis for
(UKP) ?40 to (UKP) ?60 for 14 grams. Strict checks will be made on those
applying to buy the drug and anyone who tries to sell it would be struck
off the programme and reported to the police.

"We would like the police to be involved on the verification side because
this is not cannabis for recreational use but for people who medically need
it," said Mr Davies. "We know that by setting up the co-operative we run
the risk of prosecution but it is a chance that we are prepared to take." A
spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "It is a criminal offence to
cultivate cannabis and anyone who does runs the risks of being prosecuted."

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski