Orkney MS sufferer Biz Ivol is due to appear at Kirkwall Sheriff Court next month charged with supplying, growing and possessing cannabis.

The wheelchair-bound 54-year-old was issued with a court summons around an hour after The Orcadian contacted the procurator fiscal and Kirkwall police this week to check that no court date had been set - despite a police raid on her home nearly a year ago.

Speaking from her home address yesterday, Wednesday morning, Mrs Ivol said this was what she had been fighting for for some time.

The outspoken campaigner for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis use added: “Now, it is happening. Everybody wants to join on the bandwagon. I have been told to plead not guilty and take it as far as I can. I cannot let the side down.”

She said that one police officer arrived at her home in Herston, South Ronaldsay, at 5pm on Tuesday evening with a citation to appear in court on July 16.

There are three charges on the complaint involving supply, production and possession of the class B drug, she explained.

“The first charge says that on August 6, 2001, at Craigflower Cott, Herston, I did have in my possession a controlled drug, cannabis. The second, on the same date, says I produced a controlled drug, namely two cannabis plants. The third states that between May 6, 2001, and August, 2001, both dates inclusive, I was concerned in the supply of cannabis to another and others.”

Mrs Ivol says she will be represented in court by the Edinburgh legal firm, Bovey & Bovey.

She has no concerns about appearing in court, other than how she will actually get there.

“I am in a wheelchair, a heavy electric wheelchair, and there are only steps and stairs leading to the court. I don’t know how I will actually get in.”

Kirkwall Police Inspector Paul Eddington confirmed on Wednesday morning that the situation had changed from Tuesday afternoon when The Orcadian had contacted him.

“We are aware that the matter is progressing through the judicial system, but it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further,” the Inspector added.

Fellow MS sufferer, Bill Reeve, from Burray, pledged his support for Mrs Ivol and called on society to demand that the law be changed.

He said: “The police are only doing their job, enforcing the law as it stands. It is up to society to demand that the law be changed, if they consider it unjust. Letters stating this should be sent to the home Secretary, David Blunkett, Room 243, 50 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1 H9AT.”

Mrs Ivol’s home at Herston in South Ronaldsay was raided by four police officers late one Monday afternoon in August last year. Items were removed following a search.

Three months later, Mrs Ivol, who has lived with MS for more than ten years, was charged with supplying the class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The outspoken cannabis user has made national headlines in the past over her bid to see the medicinal use of cannabis legalised, and made repeated calls for the police to raid her.

Despite the court date, Mrs Ivol says she is undeterred.

Orkney procurator fiscal, Ms Sue Foard, said she could not comment on the case.