FANFARE June 2014 | Page 23

campaigned for the drug to be legalised for four years. He explains: “I think they’re kind of in a weird position...they are a charitable organisation. They have a reputation”. But Mr French also notes that the charity does not support cannabis legalisation because the charity has “pharmaceutical invested interests”. “They fund a lot of pharmaceutical research and pharmaceutical companies do not want cannabis to be legal as they wouldn’t make any money. I really feel it is vested interests that’re stopping it,” explains Mr French. “Street dealers will give you seven grams for maybe about £70 and that’s about how much is in each bottle of Sativex. The pharmaceutical company sells it for about £125 a bottle. They’re ripping people off – they’re ripping the NHS and patients off.” At present MS sufferers in the UK have no option but to buy marijuana illegally on the streets if they want it in a purer form than Sativex. Legalisation this side of the pond? But could cannabis ever be legalised in the UK? Clark French says: “I think it’s inevitable. I