Former Nurse takes Medical Cannabis fight to the House of Lords

A former nurse is fighting for her right to medicinal cannabis, and her argument has been taken all the way to the House of Lords.

Lara Smith, a former paediatric nurse and now a member of the drug policy reform group CLEAR, has spinal arthritis and her only source of pain relief is Bedrocan. However, Smith has to travel to Holland every three months, running a “customs gauntlet” in order to obtain her medicine.

Today, after campaigns from the likes of Lara Smith, the House of Lords will be listening to a series of experts discuss how access to medical cannabis could help thousands of people suffering from MS, arthritis and a host of other ailments.

Cannabis remains a Schedule 1 drug under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 act, which means the Government consider it to have no medicinal value.

Speaking to the media, Smith stated;

Having a medicine that works makes a massive difference. I certainly don’t cry as much as I used to. I’ve got less pain and I’m more tolerant and able, and I can sit down with my children with a clarity of mind to help them with their homework. The All Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform say it should be a Schedule 2 medicine and I should be allowed to import it. I’ve pushed really hard to get this medicine, but it’s more important for the people that currently don’t have access to it. When it gets to the point that you can’t put your own socks on you’re in so much pain it gets beyond a joke.

Smith has recieved support from her local MP, as well as former Home Office Minister Norman Baker.

The case will be presented today at 3pm GMT.

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