Cannabis Outlaw Speaks Out Against Reclassification
 

A South Wales man who uses cannabis in relief of a painful condition which has left him almost entirely house-bound, has spoken out over being left between 'a rock and a hard place', in light of the governments decision to reclassify cannabis back to a class B drug.

According to Bill Stone at the Cannabis Lobby , this situation highlights perfectly the scenario many tens of thousands of British citizens find themselves in every day.

"On the one hand", said the Cannabis Lobby spokesman, "We have quite literally thousands of British voters who may have been using cannabis for long periods of time, many with their doctors knowledge, and with absolutely no ill-effect".

"Furthermore, as 25% of the United States will pay witness, cannabis can be, and is, used in the relief of a multitude of symptoms and conditions, ranging from Rheumatoid Arthritis, IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrom, Glaucoma, and as a treatment against the sometimes toxic treatments associated with cancer and many more" he continued.

"And yet, whilst administrations around the world wise up to the benefits of using what is predominantly a benign, safe, substance in place of pharmaceutical drugs which come with a raft of unwanted side effects, the British government simply refuse to acknowledge the medical expertise which exists on the west side of the Atlantic."

"So together with the British Cannabis Community we're bringing together people who use cannabis, to give their opinions on the governments change of heart, in the hope someone will see sense and allow these people the same protections from law enforcement as is afforded the US cannabis community."

"Anything less" concluded Stone, "Is a gross breach of human rights and will be treated in the courts as such."

I am, and will remain a criminal, says Norris Nuvo from South Wales.

I use cannabis to relieve my pain and to lift my depression. I fully admit to this, and I shall continue to be a criminal for as long as my government make me so. Let me tell you a little bit about how cannabis helps me live a better life.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa
I suffer from a condition called Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Hidra what? I hear you say! Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a complicated illness of which little is known of it’s cause and there is no known cure. It is manifest by extremely painful lesions, which resemble boils. These lesions sometimes erupt and weep pus and blood for days, weeks, even months. While these wounds refuse to heal I am vulnerable to all kinds of secondary infections, which may enter the body through the open lesions.

These lumps and bumps are mainly around the anus, groin, testicles, stomach, thighs, and armpits and occasionally on my face. If you have ever had a ‘boil’ you will know how painful they can be. Imagine having four or five of them, or ten, or thirty as I have had. Imagine the pain of movement, of going to the toilet, of just trying to walk around. I live with this every day.

I have seen a number of consultants, surgeons, dermatologists, pain management clinics, and nothing really works too well in pain control, except for cannabis! I have been prescribed a range of mainly opiate-based analgesics, which do work to some extent, however there is a price to pay in using opiates. That price is liver damage, kidney damage and intestinal damage and possible eventual death. Also there is the problem of opiate addiction and accompanying depression, as if the depression of just having HS is not enough.

I discovered that cannabis works as an efficient painkiller a few years ago when a friend suggested I try it. I was at my wits end, depressed to the point of thinking of suicide, unable to walk or even go to the toilet unaided. I had the pain from the lesions plus terrible muscle spasms as the muscles around my anus were either being destroyed by the progression of HS or depleted by invasive surgery. I smoked the joint and within moments the pain eased. A second joint and I was actually laughing, something I had almost forgotten how to do.

Since then I have used cannabis either on it’s own or alongside much reduced opiates. By reducing my opiate intake I have reduced the risk to my internal organs and beaten the terrible addiction that ruled my life. By using cannabis I have taken my life back under my own control and a little more mobility than before. By using cannabis my depression has lifted and I no longer think of ending it all.

I have also come to appreciate cannabis as a good social replacement for alcohol. It helps me relax and assists in self-reflection. I have discovered it is a definite asset to my creative flow, it allows my mind to wander into new areas, to think differently and it inspires me in my artwork and poetry.

I have discussed my cannabis use with my GP, consultant and with a number of medical professionals. None of them have discouraged me in my use, other than to comment on it’s illegality; three of them even said they would prescribe it if they could. I have taken part in teaching sessions at the University Hospital of Wales, in which I was examined by over four hundred doctors during teaching sessions. I told them all of my use of cannabis and not one of them had any medical objection to this usage; although nine of them reeled off the usual rhetoric about mental illness in young people. I reminded them that I am in my mid fifties and they had little else to say!

Criminalisation
I have lived under the shadow of criminalisation for all this time; either buying my cannabis from ‘dealers’, who in the most part are pretty decent people and a lifeline for those unable or unwilling to grow their own cannabis. Some of these dealers sell other drugs, but I was never tempted. I tried growing my own and was occasionally successful, but had to live with the constant fear of getting caught, every knock on the door would send my heart racing. I can no longer grow my own due to life circumstances and the regular supply of cannabis has become a problem due to the scarcity of unadulterated buds.

A lot of the cannabis available on the streets is contaminated by unscrupulous growers using a variety of contaminants such as silicon dust to bump up the weight of the buds to increase their profits. These are evil people who put profit before human health and life, much like the government.

Since cannabis became a scarce commodity in the UK, I have had to increase the amount of opiates I use for pain control and depression is looming around the corner. I have written to my MP and other politicians of all parties asking for some compassion, for some common sense and empathy. I would like to be able to grow my own medicine and have an element of control over my life. I would like to use a medicine which does not put my life at risk and which makes me feel so much better in many other ways.

Ask yourself; what kind of government would make a person suffer agony and depression by refusing a medicine? A medicine, which is far superior to that on offer by the NHS; a medicine that would cost the state absolutely nothing. What kind of government would criminalise a person seeking to relieve their pain and suffering?

I shall continue to use cannabis and flaunt the law. I shall continue to despise politicians who blunder along ignoring the needs of the people. I shall continue to be an activist for all those in pain. I shall continue to be a criminal until the law is changed. norrisnuvo.co.uk

The British Cannabis Lobby
http://forum.cannabislobby.org