Pubdate: Thu, 18 Sep 2003
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 2003
Contact:  http://www.scotsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/406
Author: John Ross
Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance (http://www.lca-uk.org)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Biz+Ivol

CANNABIS 'WILL BE LEGAL ONE DAY'

THE campaign to legalise cannabis will inevitably succeed, according to Biz
Ivol, the Orkney woman who attempted suicide after the collapse of a court
case, when she was accused of supplying the drug.

Mrs Ivol will make her claim in a message of support to the Legalise
Cannabis Alliance (LCA) Party's annual conference on Saturday. Although her
crippling multiple sclerosis has prevented her attending in person, she has
sent a tape which will be played at the opening of the event in Norwich.

In the address, she says pressure from users and the food and drink
industry, which is keen to make products using the drug, means the campaign
is certain to succeed.

She says attitudes to cannabis are best summed up in one word - "bcks" - and
adds: "It appears socially acceptable to get pd out of your mind and behave
violently, but not acceptable to get stoned and mellow."

In June, Mrs Ivol, 55, from South Ronaldsay, a long-time campaigner for the
legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes, went on trial on charges of
cultivating, possessing and supplying the drug.

She admitted sending out cannabis-laced chocolates to fellow MS sufferers,
but pleaded not guilty to supplying the drug on the grounds that she
believed she was doing nothing wrong. The case was later dropped because of
her deteriorating medical condition.

Mrs Ivol subsequently attempted suicide by taking an overdose, but has since
been released from hospital.

In 1997, she was admonished at Kirkwall Sheriff Court for using medicinal
cannabis.

She will tell the conference, dedicated to the full legalisation of
recreational cannabis, the drug needs the same controls that alcohol and
tobacco are subject to at present.

"The cannabis and cocaine trades are in the hands of criminals, in the same
way that criminals controlled the sale of alcohol in America during
prohibition.

"Britain already has homebrew alcohol produced for personal use. Cannabis is
a God-given herb. Growing your own cannabis for personal use would satisfy
the needs of both medicinal and recreational users. As with alcohol,
commercial cannabis production should be controlled by Customs and Excise."

The LCA was formed in 1999 to bring the cannabis issue on to the political
agenda.
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