MS SUFFERER MAINTAINS SUICIDE THREAT AS DRUG CASE IS DROPPED

A terminally ill cannabis campaigner said yesterday she will commit suicide
despite hearing that the criminal case against her will be dropped.

Biz Ivol, who suffers from MS, was arrested two years ago following
allegations that she was supplying cannabis to other people with the
debilitating disease across the UK.

It is believed Ms Ivol's agents notified her that the case, due to call at
Kirkwall Sheriff Court in Orkney today, would not proceed further because of
the deterioration of her health.

Ms Ivol said that she would continue with plans to end her life after her
symptoms worsened during the court case, which attracted widespread media
attention to the medicinal use of cannabis.

"People with MS must avoid stress and over the last 18 months I have lost my
balance, my eyesight, and I am paralysed from the chest down," she said. "I
have been kept in limbo for two years since the day I was raided. I am not
pleased that the case will be dropped and I am still very cross.

"I was willing to take my case to the higher courts and the European Court
of Human Rights, if necessary, but they knew that they wouldn't stand a
chance. I regret making the sheriff and the fiscal go through all this but I
am not sorry for what I did."

Ms Ivol has received hundreds of letters offering support but was unable to
reply after losing the use of her hands. She has always made clear her
intention to end her life as her physical condition declined.

"The plans are all made. I don't want to fight on much longer. I did plan to
walk into the sea but now I can't use my legs. I have made the arrangements
and have bought a plot of land for a grave," she said. "I am just too tired
to fight on much longer. I can't start a fight to recognise euthanasia."

Ms Ivol had entered not guilty pleas to three charges involving the
possession, production and supply of cannabis.

Last night, cannabis campaigners welcomed the decision to abandon the case.

Jim McLeavy, spokesman for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance from East
Kilbride, said yesterday : "I think the Crown Office is doing a U-turn in
this case because they are embarrassed and ashamed at taking action against
a dying woman.

"I welcome the fact that they have apparently seen sense, even at this late
stage, but it should never have come to this. They should never have charged
her or taken things this far. All she was doing was trying to help other MS
sufferers."

He added: "She has had two years of misery and the legal action taken
against her has not helped her health and probably made it worse. I feel for
her. She has done a very positive thing and stood up to this bad law even
when she is terminally ill and I think she has been very, very brave."

Steve Barker, administrator of the Campaign to Legalise Cannabis based in
Norwich, said: "Biz Ivol is a remarkable woman. I have spoken to her several
times and there were many people from the south of England planning to
attend the trial.

"However, I hope that her case has made people take notice of the medical
values of cannabis in helping relieve the symptoms of people who are ill,
many terminally like her.

"Cannabis has been proved by medical trials to be twice as effective as
prescribed painkillers, with less side-effects, and Biz Ivol's case has
highlighted this. It's a pity she has had to suffer so much in the process."