A PRO-CANNABIS picnic held in an Essex park turned into an impromptu medical consultation session when residents turned out to ask if the drug can help their ailments.
The Essex Cannabis Community hosted a picnic in Chelmsford's Central Park on Saturday in support of the medical use of cannabis.
Terry Virgo, 72, from Melbourne, Chelmsford, arrived looking for help with pain relief as he suffers from skin cancer and prostate cancer.
"I came here today to find out if I can get any help with my issues with cancer," he told the Chronicle.
Terry was recommended Rick Simpson Oil by an avid user and cannabis convert Lee Cruz, 27, from Southend.
Lee said: "It makes me feel good that I can recommend something for Terry to try – I know that the oil can do the body good for all sorts of things – it hasn't got to be smoked."
The oil was invented by American Rick Simpson who claims to have cured his own skin cancer in 2003 by using oil he created with a cannabis plant.
Terry added: "I have no issues with anyone using cannabis and certainly not these chaps who have been very kind and friendly – I don't smoke at all but I'm willing to look into the medicinal benefits. They haven't tried to rip me off or sell me anything, they just gave me advice."
Organiser Danny Kelly, 29, said: "This is why we wanted to hold something like this so we can help educate people about how cannabis can help them – people can come together and talk about what works and what doesn't and we can all learn. There's a lot of misinformation about cannabis and we feel it's time for a grown-up conversation about its use."
Danny feels that smoking cannabis helps with his ADHD more than medication.
He said: "I only took the pills a few times before my family took them away – so many children act like zombies because of them. When I got older I started smoking and it really helps me. I'm not saying it's a cure for everything – but it helps me."
Alex Johnson, 26, from Wickford, has been using cannabis oil and smoking cannabis since a bout of depression six years ago.
He said: "Cannabis has really helped with my depression and helped me get out and make the most of my life.
"In my opinion we need to let as many people know as possible about the benefits of using cannabis."
Don Barnard, 71, from Witham, has been campaigning for the medical use of cannabis since 1974 and said: "We are friendly people and we are willing to discuss any issues that people want – we make sure that no children are anywhere near us when we smoke.
"There is a lot of hypocrisy that surrounds the use of cannabis – people have been using the plant for centuries to help kill aches and pains and as skin oil and large pharmaceutical companies still do."
And when asked about a possible link between psychological issues and cannabis he said: "I know of no scientific evidence that supports the idea that cannabis causes psychosis."
Andrew Osborne, 23, was attending from South Woodham Ferrers and said: "I'm tired of feeling like a criminal and having to sit at home with the curtains shut."
Three previous pro-cannabis events have been held in Chelmsford without any arrests. An Essex Police spokesman said: "Police were not made aware in advance that there was a pro-cannabis meeting happening. Once officers were advised they patrolled the area. No cannabis was smelt or detected by the patrolling officers."
Lucy Dawe, from Cannabis Skunk Sense, a charity offering support for families affected by cannabis use, said: "New research suggests that prolonged cannabis use can cause psychosis. Damage to the brain cannot be reversed."
