Pubdate: Thu, 22 Sep 2005
Source: Evening Chronicle (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Trinity Mirror Plc
Contact: Thomson House, Groat Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1ED
Website: http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/eveningchronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3668
Author: Brenda Hickman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Ref: Patricia Tabram  http://www.ccguide.org.uk/pattabram.php

CANNABIS GRAN COULD FACE PRISON

Dope gran Patricia Tabram will reveal in court she cooks cannabis for 
27 people.

Mrs Tabram is due to answer bail at a police station this afternoon.

If her case goes to court the 66-year-old, who was arrested in a 
drugs raid on her home last Friday, may face six months in jail.

Defiant Mrs Tabram, who the Chronicle first revealed had cooked with 
cannabis to relieve her ailments, has been seized again on suspicion 
of cultivating hash at her home in Humshaugh, Northumberland.

She was due to report to Hexham police station to find out whether 
she faces further charges.

After the raid Mrs Tabram told the Chronicle: "They say I may be 
going to prison, so I have decided that even though I am approaching 
70 I am going to represent myself at the crown court.

"Let's face it, if I do go to court I may as well take the bull by 
the horns and list the 27 people I cook for in the Tynedale area, 
although I can't disclose their names to the court or the police, as 
they are all, except for one, older than myself."

Mrs Tabram was given a sixth-month sentence in April, suspended for 
two years, after she admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

She had been cooking casseroles, cakes and biscuits with cannabis for 
medicinal purposes

In the latest raid, police seized four cannabis plants and equipment 
for cultivating them.

She said: "I don't know why they bothered. I only had four plants and 
three of those were dying.

"They took some lights and a switch that I use for growing as well.

"I have a medical bed in my room that I have to use for my back. I 
have serious problems. I couldn't get in and out of a proper bed.

"It's things like this which really prove that I am a medicinal user. 
I don't think that I am doing anything wrong." A court ordered her to 
pay UKP 750 costs at Newcastle Crown Court after she admitted dealing 
in Class-C drugs.

Judge David Hodson warned her that she would go to jail if she 
continued to supply cannabis, but said he was aware of the media 
frenzy surrounding the case and refused to make a martyr out of her.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said after last week's raid: "A 
66-year-old Hexham woman was arrested on suspicion of cultivating 
cannabis and bailed pending further inquiries."

Mrs Tabram added: "I don't suppose any other grey-haired old ladies 
have represented themselves in the court but if necessary, I do intend to try.

"I intend to stop using cannabis as medication, then the court can 
see for themselves the difference between me at the beginning of the 
year and the state of me when I am at court with my two walking 
sticks, my collar and my bad state of health, which was made worse 
through NHS medication."
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman