medical defence tse or no?

Dear Sir, Madame,
Firstly I do not suffer with ms, or spinal injury, which I can understand, would create a very strong necessity defence. My story starts many years ago, when I was involved in an R.T.A. I had to be cut of my car and was taken to hospital, and treated for a severe head injury the scare and indentation to my head I still bare today. After the accident I have tried various painkillers to rid myself of the severe head pains I was experiencing, the tablets had little or no effect. Over some time the pains became less frequent but were still as severe. One day I was advised that I should try cannabis to elevate the pain at the time all I could get was cannabis resin, never the less I found this worked quite well at relieving the pain, also it enabled me to get a good nights sleep which I had been deprived of since the accident, Another side effect was memory recall, after the accident my memory was effected badly, I found it really hard to recall newly learned information, cannabis seamed to be extremely effective in helping with this. In order to obtain a regular supply I was forced to buy initially from street dealers and people selling from public house ect. I have been in various situations were I felt uncomfortable or threatened trying to obtain a supply. The turning point for me was approximately ten years ago when I was trying to obtain my next supply of cannabis resin from the street, I approached a dealer and asked him for resin this was overheard by another dealer who said I'll sort you out this was objected to and an argued followed between them and knives were drawn. This was the day I decided to grow my own. At this time there was very little information regarding the cultivation of cannabis. However as I understood it if you grew it similar to tomatoes this would work.
I obtained my first seeds by buying what was known back then as commercial, i.e., imported processed cannabis plant material, this contained stalk, seeds, leaf, and flowers. However the quality was very inconsistent. I continued to buy this until my first crop was realised, it was the only way to obtain seeds, and although medicinally resin was of a superior quality I could not afford both. Eventually I gained enough knowledge to grow my plants to full maturity, this was like a dream come true. I now had an unadulterated product that was medicinally superior to any cannabis obtained on the streets. However lady luck was not with me too long before the police came though my door and confiscated all I had,
I pleaded guilty to cultivation and not guilty to intent to supply that was accepted and I was given community service and a fine. Over the ensuing weeks the headaches returned but not as severe and not as frequent however my recall worsened and my sleep pattern again became disturbed once again I went back to the streets to obtain a supply. Over the next twelve months the quality of the resin I obtained diminished in medicinal quality to such an extent that it no another option than to grow my own again. It took a few months to establish my own supply again, but only a few weeks to realise the medicinal quality of my plants exceeded the street quality by far, of both resin and imported commercial. Once again my headaches disappeared, I slept well, my short-term memory was no longer a problem, I was well again. Every aspect of my health flourished. This lasted for months until again the police arrived and confiscated all I had. Again I had to appear in court and again I pleaded guilty to cultivation and not guilty to intent to supply again this was excepted and I was given a fine and community service, and was told by the judge to see my doctor to seek other medication for my condition. Soon realising that there was nothing to help with my memory and only tablets to aid my headaches. Because of the legal implications I decided not to grow my own anymore, this was in 1996. Over the years the quality of cannabis increased, and I was happy to medicate myself with cannabis often grown locally. However by now the price paid for the increased quality of cannabis was becoming out of my affordable range, The price being asked for one ounce of cannabis ranged from £120 to £180, on the other hand there was always resin this ranged from £40 to £80 per ounce much more affordable but medicinally inferior to good cannabis bud. With a growing family of five children to support, I often found it difficult to afford these prices. Weighing up the legal implication against my needs I decided I had no other choice but to start cultivating my own plants yet again. At the beginning 2002 I calculated that for approximately £25 per week I could grow as much cannabis as I needed at an affordable price without detracting from the needs of my family.
I find my self today in the same predicament as before, under arrest for cultivation with intent, however much more is known today regarding the medical benefits of this plant to such an extent as to allow gw pharmaceuticals to produce a spray for ms sufferers, I am pleading not guilty this time and would be very grateful if anyone could offer any help in my court case, regarding a medical necessity defence.
When The prosecution herd that I was going to plead not guilty, 7 months after my arrest, they decided to prosecute my wife as well, my lawyers said that the charges against my wife would be dropped, if I pleaded guilty; I see this as blackmail, the tears I am shedding right now, blur the text on this page, I am so torn, I can stand up for what I believe in, and risk my wifeâ??s and family future together, or I pled guilty and protect them as a family even if its without me.
Thank you for your time in this matter.
The case is to be heard week commencing 8th of March.
Any help you could provide me in this matter would be appreciated.
Yours truly,
Stephen Priestley.

[email protected]

I was very interested in your article and my heart goes out to you regarding your upcoming case in court. I think you should stick to your guns and not let the courts blackmail you with prosecuting your wife. You are only growing for medicinal personal use and state that. I myself, am considering growing for medicinal relief as I suffer from severe back problems and osteoarthritis and it really does help with the pain - even my doctor knows I smoke and agrees it helps with pain. I will follow your case and would appreciate knowing how you get on.

Good luck. Jen

Take it to the press! You are already "screwed". Let folks know how the cops work. Contact local activists (use the net to find them)- they will know the local laws, loopholes and lawyers. Contact your country's version of the ACLU.


Also, break your commentaries into smaller paragraphs. The average reader gets lost after a while. :wtf: Reading several small paragraphs is easier than 1 big one!

I also suffer from migraines caused by head trauma. There are a few scientific studies about how cannabis relieves migraines. Here are the ones I have in my list (linked below)-

CANNABIS AND MARINOL IN THE TREATMENT OF MIGRAINE HEADACHE
Cannabis and Marinol in the Treatment of Migraine Headache

Dronabinol reduces signs and symptoms of idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Clinical Studies and Case Reports

Cannabis and Migraine
AAMC: Cannabis and Migraine

Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency
http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/clinical.pdf

Hemp for Headache
http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/hh.pdf

Chronic Migraine Headache
Chronic Migraine Headache: Marijuana

Cannabis for Migraine Treatment: Once and Future Treatment?
http://www.druglibrary.org/crl/pain/...ne_%20Pain.pdf

Cannabinoids block release of serotonin from platelets induced by plasma from migraine patients
http://www.ukcia.org/research/Cannab...Platelets.html

Migraine may be related to under production of cannabinoids
http://www.illinoisnorml.org/index2....o_pdf=1&id=755

Cluster Attacks Responsive to Recreational Cannabis and Dronabinol.
Cluster attacks responsive to recreational cannabi... [Headache. 2009] - PubMed result

Inhaled Cannabis Aborts Cluster Headaches, Journal Reports
Inhaled Cannabis Aborts Cluster Headaches, Journal Reports<br> <em>"Marijuana use at the onset of his headaches consistently brought complete relief within five minutes of inhalation for each attack"</em> - NORML