Pubdate: Wed, 09 Feb 2005
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2005 BBC
Contact:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

GRANDMOTHER HAS CANNABIS BY NO 10

A Grandmother, Who Is Facing Drug Dealing Charges, Sampled A Pudding Laced 
With Cannabis Outside The Gates Of Downing Street On Wednesday.

Patricia Tabram, from Northumberland, also delivered a letter to the prime 
minister, asking for the drug to be legalised on medical grounds.

Mrs Tabram, 66, of Humshaugh near Hexham, admitted possessing cannabis with 
intent to supply in January.

She says she uses the drug to ease health problems.

The widow, who cooks up cannabis-laced treats for neighbours and friends in 
her village, was also meeting a literary agent to discuss publishing a book 
she has written, and the possibility of making a film about her life.

In the letter to Mr Blair, she claims commercially-produced medicines often 
make her ill, and are more harmful than cannabis.

She says her dependence on the NHS has lessened since she started taking 
the Class C drug to help her with symptoms of depression, whiplash back 
pain and tinnitus.

Mrs Tabram, who was not allowed into Downing Street because she had not 
made an appointment, said: "The cannabis masks the pain. It is a herb and I 
want people to call it a herb. It is no different to sage, thyme or rosemary.

"It makes me feel pleasant. It takes away the feeling of despair and makes 
me feel optimistic about life instead of pessimistic."

She says the number of people in her cannabis-eating club, who also use the 
drug for medicinal reasons, had recently jumped from 17 to 138.

Northumbria Police twice raided Mrs Tabram's bungalow in May and June 2004, 
and seized 32 cannabis plants.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom