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."
Should cannabis be legalised? Have your say.
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carol, manchester (10/04/2005 at 18:58)
But it's much much more complicated than this. I believe that it should be legalised not just so that people like Pat can use the medication of their choice but so that people who have very bad effects from it can be protected. Cannabis can for some vulnerable people increase the risk of developing schizophrneia and continued use make the outcome of the illness worse. It should be brought within the law and also controlled in terms of quality with clear information given about safe use. Its a complicated plant with benefits and yet bad effects for others - the old arguements of "cannabis is completely safe" against "cannabis is evil" are neither valid or helpful.