Pubdate: Wed, 21 Mar 2007
Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2007 Telegraph Group Limited
Contact:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/114
Author: Charlie Devereux
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

CANNABIS GRANNY THREATENED WITH EVICTION

A 68-year-old grandmother who was recently convicted of possessing 
and cultivating cannabis will be evicted from her bungalow if she 
continues using the drug, her housing association said today.

Patricia Tabram self-medicates with cannabis to ease her depression

Patricia Tabram, who claims the drug helps her fight depression and 
other ailments, was found guilty earlier this month of growing 
cannabis plants in a wardrobe in her home in Humshaugh, Northumberland.

Milecastle Housing, the association with which she is a tenant, held 
a board meeting to discuss her future, and decided not to evict her 
immediately.

"The board of Milecastle Housing has agreed to apply to the court for 
a possession order, suspended for up to two years, in respect of the 
home in which Mrs Patricia Tabram lives in Humshaugh, 
Northumberland," said tenant services manager Chris Scott after the meeting.

"If the order is granted, she will be allowed to continue living at 
the property only as long as she observes the terms of her tenancy 
agreement and specifically does not cultivate, possess or use 
cannabis in the property.

"Mrs Tabram has been informed of the situation and that her right to 
remain a resident in the Milecastle property depends entirely upon 
her behaviour," he said.

Mr Scott said he hoped the decision by the Milecastle Housing would 
show them to be a "a responsible and caring landlord" which 
nonetheless was "prepared to take the ultimate sanction with 
residents who break the terms of their tenancy."

In April 2005 Mrs Tabram was given a two-year suspended jail sentence 
after Northumbria Police discovered she was supplying other elderly 
and infirm people in her area with cakes, casseroles and curries 
laced with cannabis.

The mother-of-three vowed after her latest brush with the law to 
carry on using cannabis, which she said was much more effective and 
less harmful than prescription drugs she used to take to battle the 
depression she has suffered since 1975 when she found her 14-year-old 
son dead in his bed.

She said cannabis also helps her overcome the aches and pains 
sustained from two car crashes and that it gives her "better relief 
than you get from morphine."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman