| Clark French |
| U.K. multiple sclerosis patient/cannabis activist Clark French: “Police time is wasted on cannabis” |
Multiple sclerosis patient Clark French is one of thousands of patients in Britain and the world over who use cannabis to help with their medical conditions. These conditions include multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, HIV/AIDS, and Crohn’s disease. Trials are currently being conducted to determine if cannabis can stop the growth of cancers.
French, one of the founding members of NORML UK (National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), will be appearing on Channel’s 4 4Thought program, to discuss his medical use of cannabis.
Cannabis has become increasingly prominent in the United Kingdom in last few years, as more people and politicians have realized its therapeutic benefits and the harms produced by the black market. A July 2012 YouGov poll for The Sun showed that 45 percent supported at least decriminalization of cannabis, and that 25 percent of the population do not believe that cannabis is harmful at all.
| Clark French |
| Clark French: “It is beyond question that cannabis can help, and in some cases, treat, medical conditions both severe and mild” |
About 100,000 people in the U.K. have MS, and many use cannabis as the only solution to their chronic fatigue and pain. French stated that he first realized cannabis could be used to treat symptoms of MS at the age of 9 when he caught his stepfather smoking it:
“He used to medicate with cannabis and was very discreet about it,” French said. “As a child, I was very anti smoking and used to tell people off.
“My stepfather used to go out to the garage but it got to the point where he was so ill and wheelchair-bound that I caught him on a few occasions — I asked him what he was doing and he explained very rationally that this wasn’t a ‘normal’ cigarette,” French said. “He plainly informed me of the benefits that he personally obtained from using this, as he called it, medication, and how his quality of life improved dramatically.”
“It is beyond question that cannabis can help, and in some cases treat, medical conditions both severe and mild,” said Sarah McCulloch, press officer for NORML UK. “It is a travesty that hard-working young guys like Clark find themselves branded criminals for using the medicine they need to live an active life.”
French is set to appear on U.K. Channel 4’s 4Thought on Tuesday, September 25. Clark is dedicating his appearance to “his hero” and late stepfather, Richard Ramsden.
NORML UK is a national organization which “seeks to gain recognition for the rights of people to peacefully pursue activities relating to cannabis without unwarranted intervention by the authorities.”