A CHANCE TO SUPPORT A REAL SUFFERER

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Ian Gibson MP, Norwich
North, for his prompt response in signing the petition voicing disapproval
at the treatment of MS sufferer Biz Ivol by the Scottish Justice system.

Mrs Ivol is in her fifties and wheelchair bound, partially sighted and
paralysed from Multiple Scerosis. Some years ago she tried cannabis to ease
her symptoms, one of which she describes as like "having barbed wire dragged
up and down my spine."

She claims to have experienced such relief that she decided to use cannabis
to cook with, instead of smoking it, eventually settling on her own recipe
for cannabis chocolate. She was so impressed with the results that she went
to the press and was reported in 2001.

Consequently, I am told, she received requests for "canna-choc" from other
MS sufferers in Scotland, the UK and Europe, which she claims she posted
free of any charge whatsoever. Her honesty was once again reported
nationally.

She was then raided by Scottish Police. That was in August 2001 and she is
now being taken to court, in her wheelchair, after waiting almost 2 years.
In that time she will have suffered stress, as do most awaiting a trial, and
her body had deteriorated considerably so that she can no longer type or use
the Internet to communicate.

The fact that she was ever arrested in the first place, having harmed
nobody, is bad and unjust, but to make her wait so long for trial is an
outrage. I am very pleased that Dr Gibson has recognised that.

The same cannot be said for Charles Clarke MP. No doubt he will use the
reason that he disagrees with legalisation of cannabis and that he is unable
to sign because he is a government minister.

Evening News readers can show their support for this lady and their
opposition to her prosecution by signing the petition at Http:
//www.lca-uk.org/petition

Alun Buffry
Legalise Cannabis Alliance
Norwich