DOPE IS MY ONLY HOPE

Mum Sybil Lucas-Brewer openly smokes an illegal drug. She is riddled with
pain and suffers a host of illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, chronic
fatigue syndrome and a series of allergies.

She says the only way she can ease the pain and make life bearable is to
flout the law and smoke marijuana.

Sybil is by no means the only one. She knows of a network of people in
Preston -- like her from respectable backgrounds -- who, she says, smoke the
drug for medicinal reasons. Today she tells her story to the Evening Post
about how dope is giving her hope. "I'm breaking the law, but I'm not a
criminal."

Sybil Lucas-Brewer's words sum up her dilemma. To suffer the agony of a
string of medical problems, or to numb the pain by using marijuana and
openly breaking the law.

The 48-year-old, of Lea, is a marijuana user and today defended her right to
use the "God given herb".

She also revealed that she was introduced to the benefits of the drug by a
"granny" who gave her a drag of her joint in the grounds of a Lancashire
hospital. She says she knows at least 30 people in the Preston area who use
drugs for medical reasons and believes there could be hundreds more. Sybil,
who is married with two children, today called for the legalisation of drugs
for medical purposes and says the Government should stop denying those in
desperate need.

She said: "Medical marijuana, termed medi-weed, is far removed from the hard
cannabis on the streets. Prohibition only serves to fuel the black market
and gangster activity.

"Grant those with a genuine need the right to self medicate." Sybil, who is
afflicted with horrendous pain, has been diagnosed with rheumatoid and
osteo-arthritis, chronic idiopathic angio-oedema, hypothyroidism and
diabetes to name just a few.

On many occasions, she has been left fighting for her life after reacting
violently to the very drugs meant to alleviate her symptoms. Sybil said:
"Sometimes, a particular medicine would help my terrible pain. But then I
would suddenly develop an allergic reaction and suffer horrendous
side-effects."

It was while Sybil was in hospital at the age of 43 that an elderly woman
gave her an insight into the healing powers of marijuana. "It was late at
night a lady in her 80s sitting outside in her wheelchair. "I asked her what
she was doing and she said, 'I'm smoking one my son's wacky baccy cigs.'
"Her son was with her and he was a well-dressed professional. His love for
his mother had spurred him on to get her marijuana so she could have a
decent night's sleep.

"She offered me a try and I had the most wonderful night's sleep I had had
in ages." Sybil tried to get information from the Internet on how to grow
the plant for her own needs.

"I found one website and sent an e-mail explaining I was at the end of my
tether with my medical problems.

"A man replied to me and told me there were people who grew marijuana for
people like me and he asked for proof of my medical conditions. After being
satisfied I was genuine, he sent me a bag of marijuana." Sybil says she has
never felt so healthy or pain-free. "I don't feel sick, have problems
breathing or suffer adverse reactions. I am simply using a God-given plant
to help my health.

"I do not pay for the drug, I am sponsored by a grower who helps people with
conditions like MS, cancer and arthritis. He does it out of compassion."
Sybil is open with doctors about the use and while they don't condone it,
they can see it helps her.

"They may not all agree with the usage, but none can fail to notice the
improvement. There are thousands of people in my situation and the
Government is morally wrong to deny those in most need the basic human right
of self medication.

"We want to be free from being termed criminals. We want the secrets and
lies to disappear."

Police spokeswoman Supt Irene Curtis, said: "Until we receive Home Office
guidance on reclassification, cannabis remains illegal and, if necessary,
the police will take appropriate action in relation to persons who are found
in possession of it."

Dr Andy Howe, acting director of Public Health at Preston Primary Care
Trust, said: "I know there are studies on the health affects of marijuana
but I know of no evidence that it would help, and we would obviously advise
against smoking because of its long-term side affects."