Wilbur
New Member
It does not surprise me in the least to learn that some sufferers of MS are now suffering more as a result of the prosecution of the THC4MS three.
I suspect Lezley Gibson's own health will not be helped by this prosecution either.
Not because she has no access to cannabis (Lesley is one of the lucky few MS patients to have been prescribed Sativex — a medicine containing THC from cannabis plants) but owing to the stress this case has put her under.
Stress is one factor that can worsen an MS sufferer's condition.
The health of Biz Ivol (now deceased), the old lady from the Orkneys who used to make the chocolate before Mark and Lezley took over, suffered greatly each time she was dragged through the courts. Very shameful in itself.
Sativex is not licensed for use in the UK. MS patients can be licensed individually but there's a lot of red tape involved and only a few are successful in obtaining it from their GP.
Regarding Mark's lack of 'qualifications'; he may not be medically qualified but he is qualified and experienced in the field of food hygiene.
He is also very well read on the subject of the medicinal use of cannabis and has (by invitation) given many lectures on this subject at universities across the country.
Mark also knows perfectly well that cannabis has such a low toxicity that no fatal dosage has ever been established by any medical body, despite determined efforts by some, using animals as subjects.
How many over-the-counter medicines can you say that about? Or even vitamins for that matter?
All THC4MS ever wanted to do was to provide MS sufferers with a means to ease their symptoms until a viable alternative was available on the NHS.
A job which they did very well and one which took up a great deal of their time and effort.
Now what are those 1,000-plus sufferers who used to receive this cannabis chocolate to do? A few may be lucky enough to have a GP who will apply for a licence for Sativex for them. Many will simply have to cope with their symptoms deteriorating.
Then there are those who will buy their cannabis from street drug dealers. This latter group will run a very high risk of being sold contaminated cannabis (a near certainty in fact) and may also be inadvertently funding organised crime and terrorism.
Can any reasonable person possibly convince themselves that this is right?
Mark, Lezley and Marcus, each deserve a medal for what they've done for others. Not a criminal conviction!
I felt the judge gave the jury no option but to find the three guilty.
Advised as they were that they must disregard the fact that the cannabis chocolate was being given, without charge, to MS sufferers, the jury could hardly be said to have been given free will in their verdict.
In my view asking the jury to disregard undisputed facts because politicians don't like those facts is an utter travesty of law.
I would like to hear the opinion of one of the jurors as to whether they felt pressured into the conviction or whether they truly believe the actions of THC4MS were a crime.
Rev Paul Farnhill
Chapel Lane
Stretford
Newshawk: User - 420 Magazine
Source: News & Star
Pubdate: 30 December 2006
Author: Rev Paul Farnhill
Copyright: 2006 News & Star
Contact: The latest north and west Cumbria news, sport, features, what's on and travel from the News & Star
I suspect Lezley Gibson's own health will not be helped by this prosecution either.
Not because she has no access to cannabis (Lesley is one of the lucky few MS patients to have been prescribed Sativex — a medicine containing THC from cannabis plants) but owing to the stress this case has put her under.
Stress is one factor that can worsen an MS sufferer's condition.
The health of Biz Ivol (now deceased), the old lady from the Orkneys who used to make the chocolate before Mark and Lezley took over, suffered greatly each time she was dragged through the courts. Very shameful in itself.
Sativex is not licensed for use in the UK. MS patients can be licensed individually but there's a lot of red tape involved and only a few are successful in obtaining it from their GP.
Regarding Mark's lack of 'qualifications'; he may not be medically qualified but he is qualified and experienced in the field of food hygiene.
He is also very well read on the subject of the medicinal use of cannabis and has (by invitation) given many lectures on this subject at universities across the country.
Mark also knows perfectly well that cannabis has such a low toxicity that no fatal dosage has ever been established by any medical body, despite determined efforts by some, using animals as subjects.
How many over-the-counter medicines can you say that about? Or even vitamins for that matter?
All THC4MS ever wanted to do was to provide MS sufferers with a means to ease their symptoms until a viable alternative was available on the NHS.
A job which they did very well and one which took up a great deal of their time and effort.
Now what are those 1,000-plus sufferers who used to receive this cannabis chocolate to do? A few may be lucky enough to have a GP who will apply for a licence for Sativex for them. Many will simply have to cope with their symptoms deteriorating.
Then there are those who will buy their cannabis from street drug dealers. This latter group will run a very high risk of being sold contaminated cannabis (a near certainty in fact) and may also be inadvertently funding organised crime and terrorism.
Can any reasonable person possibly convince themselves that this is right?
Mark, Lezley and Marcus, each deserve a medal for what they've done for others. Not a criminal conviction!
I felt the judge gave the jury no option but to find the three guilty.
Advised as they were that they must disregard the fact that the cannabis chocolate was being given, without charge, to MS sufferers, the jury could hardly be said to have been given free will in their verdict.
In my view asking the jury to disregard undisputed facts because politicians don't like those facts is an utter travesty of law.
I would like to hear the opinion of one of the jurors as to whether they felt pressured into the conviction or whether they truly believe the actions of THC4MS were a crime.
Rev Paul Farnhill
Chapel Lane
Stretford
Newshawk: User - 420 Magazine
Source: News & Star
Pubdate: 30 December 2006
Author: Rev Paul Farnhill
Copyright: 2006 News & Star
Contact: The latest north and west Cumbria news, sport, features, what's on and travel from the News & Star
