WORLDWIDE PETITION BACKS MS SUFFERER ON TRIAL FOR SUPPLYING CANNABIS

A PETITION in support of multiple sclerosis sufferer Biz Ivol has attracted
more than 500 names from across the world in a week.

Mrs Ivol, from South Ronaldsay in Orkney, went on trial last week charged
with cultivating, possessing and supplying cannabis, which she says has
helped to alleviate the pain of MS sufferers. Mrs Ivol admitted in court
that she had made cannabis-laced chocolates which were sent to people with
MS, but said she did not think she was doing anything wrong.

Her trial has been continued until next month, but once it is completed she
has vowed to take her own life with an overdose of paracetamol and
champagne - saying the condition has left her with no quality of life. The
Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) set up the petition on its website just
prior to the trial going ahead in Kirkwall last week, and by yesterday had
attracted 517 names from the UK, America, Canada, Australia, South America
and Europe.

Among the people to sign up are a Labour MP, a Conservative councillor, a
Green Party candidate, a minister and the smuggler-turned-author Howard
Marks. The LCA is sending the petition to the Home Office and Scottish
Executive and is challenging all MPs and MSPs to sign it or be "named and
shamed".

The Scottish Socialist Party has already tabled a motion in the Scottish
Parliament seeking support for Mrs Ivol.

In a letter to the justice department, Don Barnard, spokesman for the LCA,
said: "Biz has been waiting two years for the case to come to court, and
her health has suffered so much that she is now bedridden and her sight has
gone.

"The quality of Biz's life is now so bad that she no longer wishes to be
alive. Pinochet didn't go on trial because of his alleged ill-health; he
was far healthier than Biz and he caused the deaths of over 2,000 people.

"What overriding factors convinced Scotland's justice department it was in
the interest of law and order, public health or national security to bring
this case forward?

"[It is] time to stop this nonsense. I challenge all MPs, MSPs and church
leaders to sign the petition, or give good reason for not signing."

In signing the petition, Howard Marks said: "I urge you with as much
strength and power as possible to save this lady's life. The prohibition of
cannabis has already caused innumerable hardship to millions of people.
Please don't force her to make the ultimate sacrifice."

Lawrence Wood, the chief executive of the MS Resource Centre in Essex,
said: "I am fully aware of the good work that Cannachoc [a cannabis
chocolate product] is doing and the hypocrisy of a system that allows
people to drink bleach to see if it helps but denies them a proven
treatment." Christopher Jackman, a Conservative councillor in Basildon,
added: "Biz Ivol is courageous and righteous, I am proud to support her and
the petition."

Others who have signed include Dr Ian Gibson, a Labour MP from Norwich,
Ingo Wagenknecht, a Green candidate for the European Parliament, and the
Rev Ferre van Beveren, from Amsterdam.