Pubdate: Tue, 13 May 2003
Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2003
Contact:  http://www2.odt.co.nz
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925
Author: Joanna Norris

CANNABIS RISKY RELIEF FROM STROKE EFFECTS

A Lookout Point man's life changed 18 months ago when he suffered a stroke. 
Now, the 32-year-old is racked daily by shaking and seizures.

The man and his wife (38) say they struggle to get through the weeks as the 
demands of his medical condition take precedence.

The husband, who was previously a self-employed shearer, is unable to work 
and his wife has had to leave her job in order to care for him, after he 
underwent brain surgery to remove a blood clot the size of an egg from his 
head.

Epilepsy drugs appeared to do little to stop the fits, the couple said.

An Epilepsy Association field officer quietly advised the couple marijuana 
was sometimes effective in treating the symptoms of epilepsy and they 
decided to give it a go.

"I didn't know what was happening to my husband. I did not know what else 
to do," the woman said.

The man, who speaks and moves with the characteristic slowness of a stroke 
victim, admitted a joint was the only treatment which had appeared to help 
relieve his symptoms, which also included headaches and severe stomach pain.

"It makes me calm. I don't feel like I am going mental," he said.

The pair had both dabbled in cannabis before, but were not frequent users 
and had to find a supplier.

However, they found it expensive and decided to start "growing trials".

This came to an end last month, when police found 11 cannabis plants in 
their house and another in the garden.

In court, Judge David Saunders heard submissions from defence lawyer Joanne 
Westgate, who outlined the man's medical background, its effect on his 
finances and his ability to return to work. The judge accepted the man had 
the cannabis for medical purposes, not recreational reasons, and was having 
counselling. But, while he had "every sympathy", he could not condone the 
offending, he said.

The man was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon 
within 12 months.

Yesterday, the woman said the couple, who were not growing cannabis at 
present, did not know what to do now.

"It's a bit scary to think about doing it again, but we have not had time 
to think about what else to do.

"There's not a lot we can do. We can't afford other types of expensive 
service," she said.

"If that's what works for us, we should be left alone. We aren't doing 
anyone any harm and we haven't got a lot going for us at the moment."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart