Leniency for sick woman who took cannabis for pain

[Joolz]

Press & Journal

Friday 22 Feb 2002 --

A DISABLED woman who uses cannabis to relieve the pain of a rare muscle-

wasting disease escaped punishment in court yesterday after a sheriff

showed sympathy for her condition.

Tina Lafferty, 27, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted

having the Class B drug at her Ellon home, claiming conventional

medicines had failed her.

She was admonished by Sheriff Patrick Davies after defence solicitor

Stuart Bcveridge said his client realised she had done something she

should not have, but asked that the exceptional circumstances of the

case be taken into consideration.

The verdict was given a cautious welcome by politicians last night.

Lafferty was found by police with cannabis resin worth between 50-70

pounds in her possession on February 10, 2001. She blames a neighbour

for contacting the police.

Lafferty, of the town's Annand Road, who is wheelchair-bound and unable

to work as a result of her condition, said she found the drug helped

ease her pain in ways prescribed medicines have so far failed to match.

She has attended the Pain Management Clinic in Woolmanhill since being

diagnosed seven years ago.

Admonishing her, Sheriff Davies said he understood the reasons behind

her action, but added: "What you did is unlawful and remains unlawful.

You should not break the law in this manner.

"However, it appears the Pain Management Clinic have given up trying to

treat you."

Lafferty was born with Charcot Marie Tooth syndrome, an inherited

neurological disorder which affects about 500 people in the UK.

it is a painful condition which causes sufferers to slowly lose normal

use of their limbs, hands and feet as the nerves and muscles degenerate.

Speaking outside court after the verdict Lafferty said: "I am over the

moon with the judge's decision. Thank God I got someone with so much

common sense that he took the time to look at my case and make an

intelligent decision. Other people who suffer similar disorders may not

be as lucky."

Lafferty said for her, the benefits of smoking an illegal drug had

outweighed the action of breaking the law.

"I suffer very badly from the side effects of most of the drugs doctors

have. put me on," she said.

Cannabis helps give me a normal life. Without it I am in severe pain. It

brings me down to a level where I can cope and helps me sleep.

"Before I started taking it the medication I was on had stopped me

sleeping properly for about three months."

Lafferty, who lives on her own in a specially-adapted council house,

said she had been given various different tablets and therapies. by

doctors including dihydrocodeine, epilepsy drugs and electrical impulse

therapy.

She said nothing had given her the level of pain relief combined with

the clarity of mind smoking cannabis had.

"All kinds of people use it as an alternative to prescribed pills. The

main difference for me is that I can think straight when I smoke

cannabis and can get out and about on my electric scooter, Whereas I was

like a zombie on some of the things doctors gave me."

The verdict comes days after it was announced cannabis-based painkillers

could he made available on prescription from the National Health Service

within two years.

Trials funded by the Medical Research Council - with the backing of the

Department of Health and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society - to assess

the use of cannabinoids in pain

relief are already under way.

North-east SNP MSP Brian Adam cautiously welcomed yesterday's verdict.

He said: "It is difficult for patients with these kinds of medical

conditions to get good preparations for pain relief, but it would be

unacceptable for any politician to encourage them to break the law.

"I think this decision reflects the general view of the population that

it is inappropriate to punish someone for getting themselves proper pain

relief.

"What does concern me is that cases like this are sometimes used as a

smokescreen for the legalisation of cannabis, which I am totally opposed

to?"

Aberdeen Labour MP Anne Begg agreed, adding: "This shows why it is

important to get proper manufactured drugs out there that have been

tested and that we know are safe and do work. I am against the use of

cannabis for recreational purposes and believe that it should remain

illegal, but we have to make sure that people like this woman are not

put in that kind of position again?"

Linda Hendry, spokeswoman for the Legalise Cannabis Campaign in

Scotland, said she hoped the ruling would prove to be a step forward.

'Unfortunately, it seems to be not good enough and not soon enough. Lots

of sufferers who are in real pain because of their conditions will be

excluded from receiving treatment if the guidelines are too strict. They

will still be forced to find alternative, and illegal, methods of

obtaining relief."

[Guest 123456]

Just goes to show that amongst all the madness – there can still be a little common sense being brought into play!

Although why this poor lady was dragged through the court system in the first place, needs to be questioned!

[Arnold Layne]

Absolutely Mike - I get so hopping mad when I read crap like Ann Beggs that I cannot speak for a while! Just where dose she get off for chrissake [excuse me Vicar!]?

The last thing on God's sweet Earth that I want is some fat cat palm greasing Politician's arse licking twat of a phramaceutical company feeding me more of their crap!

In my world, I have the right to grow whatever plant I want to deal with my symptoms. And if you can't cope with that Ann, and want to let these pharmaceutical poison peddlars grow fatter still on my spinal disease - then tough fuckin titty!!

Sorry guys and gals, But I just get so MAD!!!!!!

Ann Begg, Brian Adam: you make me