Pubdate: Fri, 04 Mar 2005
Source: Hexham Corant (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Hexham Corant
Contact:  http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3676
Author: David Knox
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Tabram (Patricia Tabram)
Cited: http://www.lca-uk.org (Legalise Cannabis Alliance)

CANNABIS GRAN'S BID TO BE MP

Tynedale's Cannabis-Cooking Granny Patricia Tabram Is Bidding To Become An MP.

The 66-year-old from Humshaugh will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court 
next week on a charge of possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

Police seized 242 grammes of the drug - worth over ukp800 - during a raid 
last year at her home, and also confiscated 31 cannabis plants.

But the former chef is pinning her hopes on staying out of prison - and 
entering the campaign trail at the General Election.

Mrs Tabram will challenge Labour MP and leader of the House of Commons 
Peter Hain, for his Neath seat in South Wales.

She said: "I was at the Legalise Cannabis Alliance conference last week in 
Norwich and they have asked me to be their candidate.

"The Legalise Cannabis Alliance say I'm their face of middle England."

Since pleading guilty to possessing cannabis in January, Mrs Tabram has 
become the face of an elderly generation who take the drug for medicinal 
purposes. And her small semi-detached bungalow in Humshaugh has become a 
campaigning headquarters.

Over the past few weeks, with help from friends, the widow has been writing 
to every MP in the country.

Accompanying each of the 659 letters is a nine-page report into the 
side-effects of prescribed drugs.

She said: "I am hoping at least one MP will listen. I gave this report to 
Tony Blair three weeks ago with a letter I took to Downing Street but I's 
had no reply.

"Whatever happens at court next week I won't be giving cannabis up. The 
police will just have to keep coming round and taking my food away."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom