Steady stream of enquiries about cannabis
(From The Orcadian dated July 12, 2001)

Orkney Multiple Sclerosis sufferers Bill Reeves and Biz Ivol are increasing cannabis supplies to fellow users to include chocolate laced with the drug.

More and more sufferers are taking cannabis chocolate to avoid the cancer risks of smoking the drug, they say.

Bill and Biz claim they are being inudated with inquiries about how to make the chocolate.

She has been making the chocolate, incorporating the drug, and sending it to people struggling to cope with the pain and symptoms of the disease.

"Many of the people who inquire don't want to smoke because of the cancer risks involved. Nearly all of them are middle-aged women with MS," Biz said.

Through trial and error, Biz found that Belgian cooking chocolate is the best because of the fat content. She says it makes the cannabis stronger.

"The best thing to do is freeze the cannabis then rub it through a metal sieve turning it to powder," Biz explained. "Melt the chocolate in the microwave so it is hand hot and mix them together. I make them into little sweets."

One of those sweets is usually enough to give a good night's sleep.

"You will not be stuck to the ceiling singing Bob Marley songs, but you will get a good night's sleep. Again it can be trial and error though," she said.

A tester pack of ten sweets is sent out to interested parties with a signed doctor's certificate.

"I have been using the cannabis chocolate for five years now and have never had to increase the dose. I use it about three times a week. I smoke as well," explained Biz

She said almost everyone had found relief through the chocolate.

What Biz finds most surprising lately is the turnaround in doctor advice.

"For some reason every single phone call I have had, their doctors have told them to try cannabis. I don't know why, but there does seem to be a change," she added.

Bill and Biz, who are both long-term sufferers of MS, are also sending out in excess of 20 cannabis information packs every week.

They receive a steady stream of inquiries about the drug and how to get hold of it and, again, a doctor's certificate must be received.

Biz spends every spare penny posting out packages of the cannabis chocolate.

"People send me disguised parcels containing cannabis seeds, cannabis, chocolate or stamps," she said.

And she maintains that she continues to grow cannabis plants despite a previous appearance in Kirkwall Sheriff Court, when she was admonished after admitting growing 27 cannabis plants to relieve the pain of MS.

As her venture is really starting to take off, Biz says her next move will be to apply to the Orkney Islands Council for a grant to buy a sweet-making machine and a triple-glazed greenhouse.