Pubdate: Sun, 28 Jan 2001
Source: CNN (US Web)
Copyright: 2001 Cable News Network, Inc.
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Anchor: Asieh Namdar

FORMER COP ENDORSES CANNABIS IN BRITAIN

ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: Now, some crimes become legal under certain 
conditions. Marijuana is illegal, of course, in most countries, but some 
doctors recommend using the drug for medicinal purposes, and in some 
countries, it is legal to use marijuana to relieve symptoms of a wide range 
of illnesses from AIDS to cancer to glaucoma.

Britain's ITN reports on a former police officer who's now looking for the 
drug.

UNIDENTIFIED ITN REPORTER (voice-over): Kate Bradley used to bust drug 
dealers as an undercover police officer; now she seeks them out on the 
street, in order to supply her with cannabis she smokes to ease the pain of 
multiple sclerosis. The former West Midland's police constable smokes 
cannabis 4 times a day to relieve the pain in her legs and arms and torso. 
Despite her years of service upholding the law -- mostly as an undercover 
operative in Hampton -- she now despairs it being labeled a criminal herself.

KATE BRADLEY, CANNABIS USER: I just couldn't have gone in with the pain -- 
so horrendous, and yet I had some cannabis for the first time, and it 
achieved, in half an hour, what years of orthodox medicine had not 
achieved, and I knew then that it was the only thing I could take, and I 
was going to be a criminal.

UNIDENTIFIED ITN REPORTER: Ms. Bradley wants the government to 
decriminalize cannabis for MS sufferers, but indications are that ministers 
are yet to be convinced. A recent report recommending de-criminalization is 
expected to be rejected, and research into the medical benefits is 
underway, but won't report until 2003.
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