Pubdate: Sun, 10 Apr 2005
Source: Manchester Evening News (UK)
Copyright: 2005 Manchester Evening News
Contact:  http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1313
Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://ww.lca-uk.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/patricia+tabram
Note: Grandma Eats Cannabis http://www.grandma-eats-cannabis.com/

CANNABIS GRAN'S ELECTION CHALLENGE

A grandmother who was spared jail after cooking up treats laced with
cannabis for friends and neighbours plans to stand against House of
Commons leader Peter Hain in the election, it has emerged.

Patricia Tabram, who prides herself on her home-made herbal cookies,
casseroles and soups, admitted possessing cannabis with intent to
supply from her home in East Lea, Humshaugh, near Hexham,
Northumberland.

The sprightly 66-year-old had cooked up treats laced with the drug for
neighbours and friends in her village after being introduced to it
last year. Mrs Tabram admitted buying the cannabis in bulk for herself
and four friends - who all take the drug to relieve medical problems.

The grandmother told Wales on Sunday newspaper how she plans to stand
against the Secretary of State for Wales in his Neath constituency for
the Legalise Cannabis Alliance.

She told the newspaper: "There are quite a lot of candidates standing
for the Alliance in Wales because the Welsh seem to know more of the
facts and the history of cannabis."

Medication

She added: "If I'm voted for, I'm going to promise people in this
country I will fight for the rights of every man and woman to receive
safe medication. It's going to be a hell of a long journey and I'll
probably be dead before we win the argument."

Mrs Tabram has become something of a celebrity in recent months. She
has continued to use cannabis, claiming it relieves her medical
problems and has none of the side-effects of NHS drugs.

From her remote bungalow in rural Northumberland, Tabram has
continued to cook, making her chicken and leek pies, curries, beef
casseroles, chocolate cakes and biscuits - all laced with the illegal
herb.

The greying and spectacled grandmother began cooking regularly for
friends, who all suffer similar medical problems to her. The
unrepentant pensioner has also written a book called Grandma Eats
Cannabis and hopes to have it published.

Mr Hain responded: "At the end of the day, this is an election that
will decide the future of Wales."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin