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Battle to legalise medicinal cannabis moves step closer

‘If a doctor says that cannabis is the only cure or the only way to alleviate pain, surely they should be legally allowed to prescribe that drug?’

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Andy and Vicky Clarke

The words of Michael Fabricant, who has made a desperate plea for Parliament to legalise cannabis for medicinal purposes.

The Tory MP for Lichfield spoke on behalf of thousands of suffering patients, including Vicky Clarke, from Burntwood, who battles an illness which she says has ‘decimated’ her family.

Together with her husband, Andy, they say cannabis is the only medicine that can ease the acute and stabbing pain caused by multiple sclerosis (MS).

Mr Fabricant raised the controversial issue with Home Office Minister Nick Hurd.

He said: “We are not talking about the general administration of cannabis; we are talking about the medical prescription of cannabis.”

Mrs Clarke was diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS in her mid-30s, just over a decade ago.

The stabbing pain she experienced in her shoulder was life-changing and forced her to give up her job as a teacher in Walsall.

She tried a number of treatments including acupuncture, nerve injections, stinging chilli patches and electro-acupuncture.

They seemed to have discovered the answer with cannabis-based butter and marijuana smoothies – remedies that immediately soothed her pain.

However, brushes with the law ensued.

As Mr Hurd phrased it in the House of Commons: “They still have to operate within the law. The law does permit the development, licensing and marketing of medicines, including those containing controlled drugs, such as cannabis. ”He added: “I make it quite clear that the Home Office and the Government are keeping this area under review, because this is fast moving.”

Mr Fabricant said in response: “Twelve, soon to be 15, countries in the European Union and 29 states of the United States, and the District of Columbia, have all found ways to license the medicinal use of cannabis.

“The Republic of Ireland which, with a legal framework very similar to our own, gave its Health Minister the explicit power to license use of cannabis as a medicine.

“It is time we do the same here without any further prevarication.”

Britain’s battle against the drug dates back to 1928 when it was prohibited and it has been illegal to own and use the Class-B drug in the England since 1971.

It is the most controversial plant in the world which is legal in some places, tolerated in others, only legal for medicinal use or completely illegal – like in this country.

Mr Clarke flouted the law and tried to grow cannabis for his wife’s illness, but he was caught. He also got a slap on the wrist from the authorities after he was reported for attempting to buy the drug.

There were concerns by the authorities over the safeguarding of their youngest of two daughters, Megan, who lives with them at home.

Mr Clarke said: “As the law stands, if I get caught again I run the risk of further action being taken and risk either Vicky or Megan being taken into care.

“This would also jeopardise Megan’s chances of joining the police and could ruin my daughter’s dream. So after 10 years of daily pain, it was being relieved by a small amount of cannabis in a smoothie.

“Not enough to be stoned, nor in my opinion enough to suspect, other than what must have been a slight smell in the smoothie. Vicky is now back to crying in pain on a daily basis.

“Vicky is now PEG fed, nil-by-mouth and is confined to bed suffering from a severe pressure sore and awaiting a bed at the local hospice to try again to address pain.

“At a little over five stone and suffering severe pain and many other complications due to PPMS, I ask anyone why they would want to deny a responsible adult access to a plant that was clearly helping?”

The Elizabeth Brice Bill to legalise cannabis for medical uses passed it’s second reading last month.

It is named after a television producer who battled the same agonising condition as Mrs Clark. She campaigned for the medical use of cannabis until her death in 2011.

A recent report by researchers at King’s College London warned that the majority of cannabis being sold illegally in the UK is super-strength skunk, which is linked to a higher risk of psychotic mental health episodes.

In 2016, 94 per cent of police seizures were high-potency marijuana, compared to 85 per cent in 2008 and 51 per cent in 2005.

A cannabis-based drug called Sativex has been licensed in the UK to treat MS.