Source: The Scotsman, Edinburgh, UK (http://www.scotsman.com)
Contact: Letters_ts@scotsman.com

Drug woman with cancer allowed to walk free
JOHN ROBERTSON Law Correspondent

A CANCER victim who used cannabis to ease her suffering pleaded with
others yesterday to learn from her experience and stay within the law.

Suzanne Smith, 42, was allowed to walk free by a "compassionate" judge,
but said she had found the stress of appearing in court and the fear of
a jail sentence almost unbearable.

"I would not have done things differently, but I would say now to people
in my situation: pursue the legalising of cannabis, but do not end up
like me, do not break the law."

Smith, of Balfour Street, Kirkcaldy, who was diagnosed as having ovarian
cancer in 1993, added: "People who are ill and need cannabis should not
be made to feel like criminals. There is no doubt it helped me. It
stimulated my appetite and helped me sleep ... those little things that
mean so much."

Last month, Smith pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to a
charge of being concerned in the supply of 30,000 worth of cannabis at
Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy, on 14 March last year.

Sentence was deferred for background reports and yesterday Lord
Abernethy told Smith that he was not going to impose a custodial
sentence in the special circumstances of her case.

After hearing that Smith had been trying to help other cancer sufferers,
the judge continued the case for six months and said: "In that period, I
would like you to continue with your efforts to find some outlet for
your abilities."

The court had heard how Smith, after undergoing chemotherapy and
radiation treatment, sought to have nabolone, which contained cannabis,
prescribed by her doctor, but was refused on medical grounds.

She had used cannabis from the age of 19 and, after the cancer was
diagnosed, found that it helped to ease her symptoms.

She also stuck to a strict diet and took 27 varieties of vitamin
supplements and alternative medicines.

It was said that Smith had been "easy prey" for drug dealers because of
her use of cannabis and her cancer. She was approached to act as a
courier for a consignment of six kilograms of cannabis and was to
receive some for her own use once it had been delivered.

However, Smith was caught in a police surveillance operation.

The defence counsel, Ian Duguid, said Smith was prepared to counsel
cancer patients on alternative therapies and medicine which she felt had
been to her advantage.

Outside court yesterday, Smith said: "I wish it had all come to an end
today because the stress is killing me and I have another six months to
wait and see the final outcome.

"The judge has said he does not intend to jail me. You never know, there
is always a chance [of imprisonment], but I think he is being extremely
compassionate."
Shug

Legalise Cannabis Campaign Scotland http://www.thepulse.co.uk/lcc.scotland

Media Awareness Project UK http://www.eezeecope.demon.co.uk/LegaliseUK/
pages/MAPUK.html

Legalize! http://www.legalize.org/global

UK Cannabis Internet Activists http://www.foobar.co.uk/users/ukcia/