Pubdate: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 Source: CNN (US Web) Copyright: 2001 Cable News Network, Inc. Contact: http://cnn.com/feedback/ Website: http://www.cnn.com/ Forum: http://community.cnn.com/ 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart