CANNABIS CAMPAIGNER VOWS TO GO ON WITH SUICIDE BID

BIZ Ivol, the Orkney cannabis campaigner who this week survived a suicide
attempt, has vowed to carry out her threat to take her own life.

Mrs Ivol, 55, who is confined to a wheelchair because of the crippling
effects of multiple sclerosis, took an overdose of painkillers in her home
in South Ronaldsay on Wednesday morning.

The previous evening she had learned that her high-profile court case was
being dropped.

Speaking from her hospital bed yesterday she said the discovery that she
had failed with the overdose was like waking from a nightmare, and said she
will "do it properly next time".

She said: "I'd been waiting for two years for it to come to court. I knew I
was far too tired to carry on fighting and that it was time to end my life."

Last night her condition was said to be "comfortable" and it was unclear
when she will be released from hospital, although it may be as early as today.

Mrs Ivol, who has had MS for ten years, had gone on trial last month
charged with cultivating, possessing and supplying cannabis. Although she
pled not guilty, she admitted during the trial she had sent chocolates
laced with the drug to other MS sufferers as it helped relieve their pain.

When the case resumed on Wednesday at Kirkwall Sheriff Court, the charges
were dropped on the grounds that her deteriorating medical condition made
it impossible for her to make further appearances at the trial.

Before the trial started she took delivery of a cardboard coffin and
announced she would take her own life once the hearing was completed.

"Once I knew the case had been dropped I knew I could fight no longer. I
just decided when I went to bed that there are plenty of people who can
carry on the fight for the medicinal use of cannabis to be legalised," she
said.

"I'm going to commit suicide properly next time. Waking up in hospital and
finding that I made a mess of it was like a nightmare for me."