Pubdate: Wed, 26 Jan 2005
Source: Mirror, The (UK)
Copyright: 2005 The Mirror
Contact:  http://www.mirror.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1161
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain)

GRANNY'S HOT POT - PRISON THREAT FOR DRUG COOK, 66

A grey haired gran is facing jail after cooking up recipes laced with 
CANNABIS. Patricia Tabram, 66, began using the illicit drug in her country 
kitchen as a "natural remedy" to ease painful back injury after a car 
crash. Soon she was throwing dinner parties for elderly freinds who chipped 
in UKP 150 a time for the secret ingredient in her unique "hot pots". But 
local police were quickly on the scent of her mind blowing soups, curries 
and chocolate cakes.

They twice raided her home in a picturesque hamlet. And Patricia finally 
ended up in court - in her best cardie and large round specs - accused of 
possessing the drug with intent to supply. Despite admitting the charge, 
the ex-restaurant boss remained defiant yesterday after being released on bail.

She said "I believe cannabis should be made legal for medical reasons, its 
a natural herb. It has given me pain relief, as it has for my other friends 
who are suffering from MS and other conditions."

"If they send me to jail, I can finish writing my book, 'Grandma Eats 
Cannabis' - about the merits of medicinal herbal cannabis.

I want people to know NHS medicines are poisoning them instead of treating 
their illness."

Patricia escaped with a caution the first time she was busted last may at 
her home in Humshaugh, near Hexham, Northumberland.

She guided five officers to her attic, where they found 31 10 inch high 
seedlings and self seal bags used to supply the drug to unnamed friends. 
"They thought it was in a hut outside," she recalled "but I told them it 
wasn't" "They took my diaries, my nail scissors which I used to cut up the 
buds, and, my pamphlets and books which I used for research"

She pleaded guilty last December at Newcastle Crown Court to possessing the 
drug with intent to supply.

Widow Patricia told officers her friends had clubbed together to buy it 
purely for medical reasons.

On the last raid, police found 242 grams, (8.5 oz) of the stronger skunk 
variety of the drug worth around UKP 850.

She revealed she bought it from contacts at various cafes. one dealer told 
her "you look like a woman I can trust"

Patricia who will be sentenced in March said "I don't believe cannabis is a 
drug like heroin and cocaine. It only gives you a high for about thirty 
minutes. "My cannabis chocolate cake covers pain for about five hours or 
more, which is why my friends use it. I don't think it does any harm."
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MAP posted-by: Beth