Gran says: "legalise it!"

If ever there was a case to underline the absurdity of anti-drug legislation, it's this one. Patricia Tabram, a 66 year old woman from Northumberland, takes cannabis in a powdered form up to five times a day because it alleviates back and neck pain, tinnitus and depression far more efficiently than the cocktail of synthetic drugs that she was previously prescribed, and without any of the unpleasant side effects. You'd think a pensioner managing to relieve herself of excruciating body pains and living a more comfortabe life would be a good thing, wouldn't you? She has found something harmless (relative to the toxic alternatives, at least) and naturally occurring that alleviates her condition. Moreover, it is cheaper, freeing up funds that would otherwise be subsidising her expensive prescriptions.

But no. She's branded a criminal and is on bail, charged with possession of an illegal substance with intent to supply. Ridiculous in so many ways. Ridiculous that an elderly woman providing her friends with small amounts so that they, too, can benefit, is defined as a drug dealer. Ridiculous that the police have to waste time, effort and money clamping down on users of such a benign substance. There is no logic or basis for keeping cannabis illegal, all it does is make criminals of people unnecessarily. People who are causing no offence or harm to anyone other than themselves. It clogs up the legal system and wastes the time of the police who could instead be concentrating on more serious matters. For instance, controlling the antisocial behaviour of people who have spent an entire evening consuming the nation's favourite (legal) drug of choice: alcohol.

Personally I'd support the legalisation of all drugs on the basis that the purity could be monitored, thus making them safer; their output could be regulated, thus taking them out of the control of dangerous organised criminals and they could be taxed, thus generating billions of pounds in revenue that could be used to improve our schools, hospitals and, indeed, our police force. A common sense, practical solution that could be used to the nation's advantage. I don't expect any of the major parties to be advocating any such policy in this year's election though. Instead, expect more of the same bullshit arguments and tough talk trying to fight a battle that can never be won.

So let's hear it for Mrs Tabram as she fights the power. Let's hope her case is dismissed on grounds of compassion and in the process it makes a few more people realise the futility of our current drug laws.