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Cannabis-smoking mum stabbed herself to death

10:49pm Tuesday 11th March 2008

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By Miles Godfrey »

A mother driven insane by cannabis stabbed herself repeatedly through the chest with a carving knife after claiming she was spoken to by a dog.

Julie Cross told friends the animal was "trying to tell her something" before picking up the 5in blade and ramming it at least five times into her chest and abdomen.

An inquest was told the former receptionist, from Goring, used speed and cannabis on a daily basis and in the weeks running up to her death had slashed her wrists and smeared her blood across a crucifix and also hung a noose from her attic.

Katie Leason, spokeswoman for mental health charity Rethink, said the case further proved that cannabis causes severe mental illness. "We don't believe there is any doubt about it now. There is a proven link between the drug and psychosis," said Ms Leason.

Rhys Cotton, 20, who lived with Miss Cross and her son Terry Greenslade, 22, discovered her body slumped on the floor on the morning of June 27 last year, after his blood-stained dogs ran to alert him as he got out of the bath.

Ms Cross, 41, suffered three fatal puncture wounds to her lungs and liver, the deepest of which was 4in long with other minor superficial knife injuries.

Mr Cotton, who called Miss Cross his "auntie", was the only person in the house at the time of the tragedy and was arrested the same day on suspicion of murder but later released.

He said during a police interview, which was read at the inquest: "I went upstairs and could see into her bedroom. "She said to me, 'I think the dog is trying to tell me something.' "I thought that was quite strange. A lot of things she did I found strange, but didn't really think too much about it."

He added: "She would tell me that she regularly heard voices and would often trash the house."

The hearing, at Worthing Town Hall, was told that Miss Cross, from Limbrick Lane, had drug-induced psychosis diagnosed in 2006.

It had led to her spending much of her last year in and out of the Mill View psychiatric hospital. The inquest heard that during what was described as a "very difficult life" Miss Cross had made repeated attempts on her own life, starting at the age of 14.

She had suffered two acrimonious divorces and on one occasion a spurned husband had returned to the family home with a can of petrol and a lighter, threatening to firebomb the property.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Johns released Mr Cotton after he gave a "full and plausible" account of the incident.

That, coupled with Miss Cross's history and an absence of evidence of other third-party involvement, led the detective to conclude the wounds were self-inflicted.

Pathologist Dr Robert Chapman, who carried out a post-mortem examination on Miss Cross, agreed. He told the inquest: "There were a number of factors which allow us to make a judgment that is consistent with self-inflicted injuries."

Asked if Miss Cross would have been strong enough and capable enough of repeatedly stabbing herself, Dr Chapman said: "I think somebody would be capable of doing this. The major wound would not have instantly disabled her."

The coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure, saying the wounds could have been a "cry for help".

Miss Cross' family and friends told The Argus they believe she was murdered and would not have been able to inflict the wounds.

After the hearing, Amanda Cross, her sister, said: "She hated violence and adored Terry. She wouldn't have taken her own life. We are not going to let this drop."

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Your Say YourArgus

Amme, Worthing says...
11:32pm Tue 11 Mar 08

Drugs are wrong!

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lucy, btn says...
11:47pm Tue 11 Mar 08

here we go again same old stories same old arguments. i doubt cannabis helped but i expect this lady already suffered mental health problems before she took a joint.i hope she is at peace now.

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ray ellerton, portslade says...
11:50pm Tue 11 Mar 08

"used speed and cannabis on a daily basis" it was more likely that the speed caused her paranoia, and voices in the head. when i was a teen years ago i tried it now and again and one weekend was on it from the friday to sunday. i spent the next three days shut away in my room convinced that there were people spying on the house and wanted to get me. that was the last time i used that crap...poor woman it must have driven her insane. the cannabis was probably smoked to try and chill her out from the speed.....a far mor dodgy drug than cannabis, but we know how much spin gets put on the use of it these days! hope she has found peace now.

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Non Druggy, hove says...
12:08am Wed 12 Mar 08

Wish the Argus would stop doing these 'false' headlines..like Cannabis smoking deaths...usually, and then admitting in the story, that there are so many other factors contrubuting to these deaths. It might make more sence if they headlined the story with 'Woman stabs herself to death' and then addd the facts.
The general impression to the average reader says 'they are trying toooo hard to blame cannabis.'and the impetus of the story is lost and the intention of trying to put people off of the drug idea is lost too, because only the rare person who reads headlines and not the rest of the story will believe this sort of journalism. Please, please Argus..stop looking for 'hack' type of headlines because it either stops the reader from being informed or makes them think you are idiots.

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Phil Smith, South Dakota, USA says...
1:26am Wed 12 Mar 08

My goodness, what ridiculous propaganda. This is right out of Reefer Madness. I thought we were backwards in the US, but the British tabloid media is really an embarrassment.

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Lonely, Kemp Town says...
4:46am Wed 12 Mar 08

A dog talks to me after 12 pints of Tanglefoot - the effect wears off but it's nice to have somebody to talk to

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Richard, london says...
6:00am Wed 12 Mar 08

Rip that poor lady but shame on your paper for such biased non journalism.ill since 14 and was a heavy amphetamine user which can produce psychosis but you focus quite erroneously on cannabis with your cheap shot headline.You insult your readership by doing so,for shame.Press complaints commission will be hearing from me for sure.

Report this post »

Dikki, milton keynes says...
6:26am Wed 12 Mar 08

Absolutely disgusting that you can get away with such biased journalism. I do hope that some relulatory body will investigate your reporting techniques further....

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humpty, the wall says...
6:46am Wed 12 Mar 08

was the dog telling her to stab herself?
if so, isnt this dog liable.

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lee, work says...
8:03am Wed 12 Mar 08

'driven insane by cannabis' - you shoudl be very ashamed of your reporting, disgusting!!

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Aezek, Colorado, USA says...
8:10am Wed 12 Mar 08

This is absurd, speed and cannabis are vastly different drugs, and claiming immediately in the headline that Cannabis is the reason she stabbed herself is simply ignorance. Amphetamines have been known to cause bouts of insane rages and hallucinations, cannabis is not the evil drug here, and shame on the persons responsible for this headline.

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lynn saunderson, says...
8:22am Wed 12 Mar 08

I was at the inquet as i new miss cross for 20 years. The article is wrong in many places and for the record Julie had no sign of drugs in the blood and and did not cut hr wrists 2 weeks before.I believe Miles needs to retract his article and an apology needs to be given to amanda cross for this miss reporting.Miles obviously was not listening to the facts.The coronor said she could not say it was suicide as no note was left.

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paul, brighton says...
8:29am Wed 12 Mar 08

Katie Leason of Rethink is a very silly little girl.

If this 'proves' that cannabis causes mental illness, then presumably Michael Todd throwing himself off Snowdon 'proves' that becoming a policeman causes mental illness too...

Report this post »

Elf, Brighton says...
8:55am Wed 12 Mar 08

More sensationalist misreporting from the Argus.
This poor woman had severe psychological problems from the age of 14, and regularly took speed, which is not only a drug that has _actual_ evidence linking it to psychosis, but is also regularly laced with other destructive substances.
...and the Argus immediately links her death to the cannabis.
Cannabis was far more likely to have helped her balance herself mentally than tip her over the edge - and I should know.
This paper regularly takes tragic events like this and spins the facts (heard of those, Mr. Godfrey?) in this irresponsible manner. It's sloppy, lazy and dishonest.
I believe a retraction, reexamination and apology are in order. Again.
You, Mr. Godfrey, are a hack of the worst order. You are one of the pathetic examples of a "journalist" that has helped turn this once fine local paper into just another tabloid rag.

Report this post »

Simon, kemp town says...
8:59am Wed 12 Mar 08

shame on you Argus. there is no doubt i will be writing to complain about this poor, scape-goat media tripe.
journalism at its very worse!
Brighton is meant to be a liberal town for bohemians and thinkers, not daily mail hysteria. the poor womans family must be devastated by all this nonsense.
poor.

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Winston Matthews, Horley Surrey says...
9:02am Wed 12 Mar 08

May this poor soul RIP.

These posts referring to Reefer madness are right here, are right!


Amphetamine psychosis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Amphetamine psychosis is a form of psychosis which can result from amphetamine or methamphetamine use. Typically it appears after large doses or chronic use, although in rare cases some people may become psychotic after relatively small doses (Including such Amphetamine based ADD/ADHD based drugs e.g adderall). Other chemicals or drugs which similarly increase dopamine function (such as cocaine and L-DOPA) can produce similar psychotic states. Because of this, the term stimulant psychosis is sometimes preferred.

Need I say more, blaming cannabis for speed use is bad science, bad reporting, and in the states there is a pro marijuana group called "Safer" suing the USA government about the lies told about cannabis, about time someone, held these reporters to account for these purposely misleading articles.

Be warned Argus!

Report this post »

homarus, jersey says...
9:30am Wed 12 Mar 08

this is absolutly unbeleivable I agree that legal action should be taken against misreportings like this. Absolutly no evidence at all. If she drank alchohol would it be blamed for her already existing psychosis?

I feel sorry for people like Gabriel who have been so miseducated and brain washed that they have infact lost their grip with reality and not vice versa.

This is a day after an informative piece on channel 4 which actually admited that cannabis had positive effects on alzeimers and could have other medical benifits let alone let alone the recreational ones. Although I can in no way condone the use of speed.

Times are changing I beleive journalists who report like this will soon be out of work and truthful and educational information will become more norma. Well I really hope so because this is disgusting journalism.

My thoughts are with her friends and family.

Report this post »

Kickboxer, Worthing says...
9:37am Wed 12 Mar 08

Oh wow. Quotes from Wikipedia and lines such as 'and I should know' really prove your points, pro cannabis lobby.

Once again, two comments on a regional newspaper in the UK from two random punters in the US add to this really creep scientology feel.

Do we really need to have this pointless debate with a bunch of stoners again?

Report this post »

Kickboxer, Worthing says...
9:39am Wed 12 Mar 08

Richard wrote:
Rip that poor lady but shame on your paper for such biased non journalism.ill since 14 and was a heavy amphetamine user which can produce psychosis but you focus quite erroneously on cannabis with your cheap shot headline.You insult your readership by doing so,for shame.Press complaints commission will be hearing from me for sure.
Good luck with that. Why not try Watchdog at the same time?

Frankly, I think both have bigger fish to fry.

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Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
9:41am Wed 12 Mar 08

Miss Cross's family has a Blairlike use of "believe". They "believe" she was murdered, but do not supply any evidence for this. Where is their knowledge of pathology and the direction and form of the wounds inflicted?

No, like Blair, they are simply whistling in the dark, all wishful thinking because they do not want to face up to the reality of this hideous death.

They should be ashamed of themselves for insinuating that somebody unnamed was responsible for the death.

Report this post »

Kickboxer, Worthing says...
9:42am Wed 12 Mar 08

homarus wrote:
this is absolutly unbeleivable I agree that legal action should be taken against misreportings like this. Absolutly no evidence at all. If she drank alchohol would it be blamed for her already existing psychosis? I feel sorry for people like Gabriel who have been so miseducated and brain washed that they have infact lost their grip with reality and not vice versa. This is a day after an informative piece on channel 4 which actually admited that cannabis had positive effects on alzeimers and could have other medical benifits let alone let alone the recreational ones. Although I can in no way condone the use of speed. Times are changing I beleive journalists who report like this will soon be out of work and truthful and educational information will become more norma. Well I really hope so because this is disgusting journalism. My thoughts are with her friends and family.
No they aren't.

Your thoughts are about trying to promote and justify your silly little drug habit

Report this post »

Elf, Brighton says...
9:50am Wed 12 Mar 08

@ Kickboxer, 09:37

If you'd care to supply some references or personal experiences of your own to back up your refutations, I'll gladly engage you in debate. Otherwise your comments are just empty words.

And why shouldn't people in the US comment here?

Report this post »

Alex, Brighton says...
9:55am Wed 12 Mar 08

I will get off the drugs point as it has been made so many times and be a bit pedantic.

She did not claim, as the headline suggests, that the dog spoke to her. She clearly said the dog was trying to tell her something. There is a difference.

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Kickboxer, Worthing says...
10:00am Wed 12 Mar 08

Elf wrote:
@ Kickboxer, 09:37 If you'd care to supply some references or personal experiences of your own to back up your refutations, I'll gladly engage you in debate. Otherwise your comments are just empty words. And why shouldn't people in the US comment here?
Sorry, just read your posts again and they are not exactly filled with any evidence are they?

You call someone a troll and then come out with the greatest line ever: 'Cannabis was far more likely to have helped her balance herself mentally than tip her over the edge - and I should know.' Empty words indeed.

If you were actually in Brighton and had ever read this site before then you would know who I am and wouldn't need 'references'.

I just find it odd that people in the US apparently trawl local news websites from around the world with the apparent sole purpose of spouting pro-cannabis propaganda. It's all a bit culty.

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Tara Phlapps, Portslade says...
10:09am Wed 12 Mar 08

I think the dog killed her because it was upset about the proposed beach dog ban. And they DO talk to people. Just look at Son of Sam.

Report this post »

Eco Man, Kemp Town says...
10:13am Wed 12 Mar 08

Why doesn't this report dignify the poor dog with a name? I hope that the dog, talkative or not, is being well looked after.

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Canna Zine, South Wales says...
11:03am Wed 12 Mar 08

Its very easy to get the focus of an article moved from the main topic, to a secondary, diversionary topic, with petty "handbags at dawn" threats so can we keep to the program guys? Cheers.

The British press has for too long, gotten away with this kind of shoddy sensationalistic writing and it pleases me no end to see people finally taking a newspaper to task over its so called news output.

I wrote for local press for almost three years and I'll tell you, the journo who wrote this piece is due a pay-rise, as all the feedback it caused means people are on the website so its a job well done.

The cannabis community are just the sheep which the newspaper "herds" with its sheepdog, cleverly disguised as a news article.

RIP Julie Cross

Canna Zine - daily zine for the cannabis scene




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Adam Hope, Newcastle-under-lyme says...
11:11am Wed 12 Mar 08

it is good to see so many comments about the irrationality of this story's argument, the first mentionings of 'daily use of speed' should be all you need to hear when it comes to someone being psychotic, obviously that doesn't grab as many readers as blaming cannabis. what ever happened to journalism?

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Mel, Brighton says...
12:25pm Wed 12 Mar 08

This is not the first time that a reporter from the Argus has written an irresponsible story with no thought for the senstivivty of the subject or the friends and loved ones of those involved. It may of course be the same reporter. I am neither for or against cannabis but I am against false and sensationalist reporting. It seems that he was asleep during the inquest. It is not evidence of a 'cult' if people from America comment on a report, it is an embarrassment to us that the article was considered so bad it was posted on the internet.

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Bodle, leicester says...
1:45pm Wed 12 Mar 08

The argus has retarded journalists ! Why put cannabis use in the headline and not speed? Speed is much more of a dangerous drug u **** idiots.

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dave in Prague, Prague says...
2:01pm Wed 12 Mar 08

homarus wrote:
this is absolutly unbeleivable I agree that legal action should be taken against misreportings like this. Absolutly no evidence at all. If she drank alchohol would it be blamed for her already existing psychosis? I feel sorry for people like Gabriel who have been so miseducated and brain washed that they have infact lost their grip with reality and not vice versa. This is a day after an informative piece on channel 4 which actually admited that cannabis had positive effects on alzeimers and could have other medical benifits let alone let alone the recreational ones. Although I can in no way condone the use of speed. Times are changing I beleive journalists who report like this will soon be out of work and truthful and educational information will become more norma. Well I really hope so because this is disgusting journalism. My thoughts are with her friends and family.
Come on then bright one.
List the effects of speed.

Then..list the effects of cannabis...

Then explain why cannabis is the culprit in theis issue.


And before you run away with the...your in Prague, not Brighton...im from Brighton.


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mary james, 470-222 says...
2:21pm Wed 12 Mar 08

more trash sensationalism from the argus. you're not doing well for credibility chaps.
having spotted this load of tosh, why would we believe anything that you print?
is this a murdoch owned paper by any chance?

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Siphersh, Hungary says...
3:07pm Wed 12 Mar 08

It's outrageous how disrespectful and insensitive this article is toward the deceased and those close to her.

Also, many people all around the world are working to provide very important information about the dangers of drugs. This ridiculous and stupid article is making people believe that information about the dangers of drugs cannot be taken seriously, thereby doing great disservice to the community.

A mother driven insane by cannabis


It's really infuriating and extremely stupid to say such a thing based on the presented information. How can such an article be published?! How is that supposed to be journalism?

Report this post »

Moon Pig, Brighton says...
3:26pm Wed 12 Mar 08

I dunno why you're all arguing over whether it was or wasn't to blame - are any of you actually qualified to comment? Seriously, do you have nothing better to do than nitpick at other people on a local news website, LOL! Especially you Kickboxer, you get right up my nose you narrow minded little twerp, what IS the point of prodding people into arguments?

As for the article, well, until that's proven can they actually legally say things like that? If I was a member of her family I think I'd find that pretty hurtful and disrespectful...

Report this post »

Peter Grimes, Runcorn says...
3:33pm Wed 12 Mar 08

PC Plod wrote:
So let me get this straight Sir. You propose to track down and inflict injuries sufficent to disable the ability to walk of a man who produces a news article, the contents of which you do not like? You seem like a very angry man and perhaps it would be best if you were to accompany me to the station at this time. I also think the grammar police will want a quiet word in your ear.
What other way is there of stopping him publishing lies like these?

If you complain through regular channels you get nowhere.

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angry, after FFS says...
3:34pm Wed 12 Mar 08

Flat Foot Soozie wrote:
Call me an old-fashioned, romantic girl, if you must, but Cole Porter had a point: "I get no kick from cocaine, flying too high in the sky... I get a kick out of you." If there had been some love in her life instead of sitting around in a stoner pack, she would not have reached for the knife.
Who are you to say she had no love in her life!! Knowing her son like i do there was a lot of love there so keep you cheap and nasty comments to yourself.....You must have a very sad life soozie as all you seem to do is sit on her all day making stupid comments that no one reads!!

Report this post »

Another reader, says...
3:38pm Wed 12 Mar 08

Perhaps if you toned down the provocative nature of your comments, nobody would have the need to delete them.
That's not too much to ask, is it?

Report this post »

Another reader, says...
3:40pm Wed 12 Mar 08

Another reader wrote:
Perhaps if you toned down the provocative nature of your comments, nobody would have the need to delete them. That's not too much to ask, is it?
The above comment was aimed at 'A.Reader'.

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Kickboxer, Just off to the Texaco, anyone fancy a Topic bar? says...
4:05pm Wed 12 Mar 08

Listen guys, I am really a very nice guy and I don't deserve all of this abuse.

I even helped put the tapes into a very tasty little CCTV system for an alleged cannabis cafe which includes a clever device called a 'camera'.

I have nothing against smokers, I love those dopey gits and like nothing more than listening to them waffle on for hours about TV programmes from the 80s and sometimes accompany them on trips to the all night garage for Topic bars. I even like listening to seriously monged music and once I saw like faces in the fire, man.

Now stop being mean or I'll track you all down and beat you up.

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ingo, Norfolk says...
4:23pm Wed 12 Mar 08

First, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family, Julie must have been under some terrible pressures to take her own life. Far from making any rash judgements with regards to cannabis,as the writer of this article sadly has done, I would like to point to the first suicide attempt, age 14 and whatever proceeded this monumental part in her life, something must have happened then,it influenced and set her out on the course she lived. I would agree with some of the comments made on amphetamines, the research points to a propensity to violent and depressive behaviour.
Finally to use this poor womens life to score another rabid point against cannabis, is naive and indistinguishable from the Governments prohibitionist line, you can do better than this.
Ingo, LCA environmental spokesperson, Norfolk

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Mikey, USA says...
4:46pm Wed 12 Mar 08

Kickboxer: Did it ever occur to you that there are people in the United States that grew up in the Brighton area and would like to stay in touch with what's happening there? No, I didn't think so. For goodness sake, you are not the moderator of this site.

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just wondering, the library says...
4:49pm Wed 12 Mar 08

Why is it that cannabis users are all so lazy, boring and scruffy?

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Me, here says...
5:00pm Wed 12 Mar 08

just wondering wrote:
Why is it that cannabis users are all so lazy, boring and scruffy?
They're most likely just the ones you know about.

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Barry, Shoreham says...
5:11pm Wed 12 Mar 08

Once again, the pro-cannabis brigade are out in force and still in denial.

Ingo - you accuse people here of using this tragic story for point-scoring and yet are using it yourself to promote outdated nonsense that "The Weed is 100% harmless and wouldn't it be great if everyone smoked it and there would be no wars etc... etc..."

Anyone who's seen dope send close friends into a downward spiral of schizophrenic hell will know what I'm talking about.

Report this post »

Barry, Shoreham says...
5:18pm Wed 12 Mar 08

It's also quite obvious that these comments have been hijacked by a group of pro-dope-smokers from another website or wherever you've all come from. Somebody here has died and you should all be ashamed of yourselves.

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mary james, reading says...
5:37pm Wed 12 Mar 08

dear barry, shoreham,

i'll be ashamed of my attitude when the press starts printing something approximating the truth. lies and shoddy journalism have to be exposed.
what a thoughtless point to make.

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mary james, reeading says...
5:46pm Wed 12 Mar 08

Why is it that cannabis users are all so lazy, boring and scruffy?

some are, some aren't, we're a cross section of society. only yesterday a senior surgeon was charged with using cannabis although i don't know how boring he is.
uninformed insults don't help you make any points just wondering . you may be in the libray but the books are just decoration, aren't they?

Report this post »

Jason, Worthing says...
5:51pm Wed 12 Mar 08

Barry wrote:
It\'s also quite obvious that these comments have been hijacked by a group of pro-dope-smokers from another website or wherever you\'ve all come from. Somebody here has died and you should all be ashamed of yourselves.
No Barry, the so called journalist should be ashamed of printing lies and propaganda off the back of this poor womans demise. Shame on him and shame on The Argus for printing it.

Report this post »

Surgeon's Pal, ER says...
5:59pm Wed 12 Mar 08

mary james wrote:
Why is it that cannabis users are all so lazy, boring and scruffy? some are, some aren't, we're a cross section of society. only yesterday a senior surgeon was charged with using cannabis although i don't know how boring he is. uninformed insults don't help you make any points just wondering . you may be in the libray but the books are just decoration, aren't they?
Actually he is a pretty lazy surgeon and quite scruffy too.

I wouldn't say he was boring exactly but his guests did tend to fall asleep during starters at his dinner parties

Report this post »

Me, here says...
6:16pm Wed 12 Mar 08

Barry wrote:
It's also quite obvious that these comments have been hijacked by a group of pro-dope-smokers from another website or wherever you've all come from. Somebody here has died and you should all be ashamed of yourselves.
Actually Barry, I don't smoke dope. I used to as a youth but grew out of it (as most do).
You may call me a "pro-dope-smoker", I see myself as a pro-factual-informat
ion-about-the-conseq
uences-of-smoking-do
pe sort of person.
Yes, someone has died and I don't like to hear that.
Ashamed..? Of what?

Report this post »

Mikey, USA says...
6:56pm Wed 12 Mar 08

Kickboxer: I live in the US and my comment did not mention cannabis. Moderator my a ss, you're just a sad little man on a power trip, using the anonymity of the web. You threaten anyone who dares to disagree with you. But, since YOU mention cannabis, I'm happy to add that where I live cannabis is legal, and no-one walks around stabbing themselves to death because of it.

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c dawson, eastbourne says...
9:08pm Wed 12 Mar 08

I attended yesterdays inquest,and would like to say that i am appalled at the lack of sensitivity,AND the lack of accuracy that this so called reporter has portrayed,i would like to suggest that if the argos wishes to salvege any vague grains of self respect then they should not only print a full apology to the cross family,but they should consider looking at the type of staff they employ,i for one will never buy an argos again

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WCD, London says...
9:32pm Wed 12 Mar 08

If cannabis causes Psychosis and Schizophrenia, why aren't the majority of people in Amsterdam schizophrenic or psychotic? They are of course, smoking the strongest strains of 'Super Skunk' available. Surely this would have a huge affect on the average mental state of the inhabitants of The Dam?

The headline is disgraceful. It should read 'Speed taking mum stabbed herself to death', as that is what most likely caused her death. There are direct, proven links between Speed and Psychosis. On top of this, she had been Psychotic since she was 14! Blaming cannabis is ridiculous.

I hope her friends and family are able to move on despite this shocking article.

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Tyler McCormack, where ever you arent says...
4:38am Thu 13 Mar 08

Miles Godfrey, you are the worst columnist on planet earth. Congratulations.

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Jon, bfe says...
9:13am Thu 13 Mar 08

Ha, this author of this must be a fricken retard

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tobi, brighton says...
10:29am Thu 13 Mar 08

flat foot soozie keep your nasty comments to yourself you nasty lardhead

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John Arkwright, Brighton says...
10:49am Thu 13 Mar 08

Complaint sent to the Press Complaints Commission, I would urge others to do the same at www.pcc.org.uk/. Yellow journalism like this should not be tolerated.

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chris, liverpool says...
12:42pm Thu 13 Mar 08

Cannabis did not cause this. Its a joke to think that its more damaging than speed.

Speed will give you a mental illness long before cannabis. Its a sad story, and no deserves this but cannabis cannot be blamed. Its a classic overlook of the situation.

Its the same with cannabis psychosis, There is always underlying factors. In this case, SPEED.

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misspeachesandicecre am, Brighton says...
12:53pm Thu 13 Mar 08

I see the Argus moderator has been on here deleting posts critical of Miles Godfrey. If you cope with the criticism then don't ask for comments. Sadly even though you've been hitting the delete button, most of the people posting think this article is a disgrace - both insulting to the family and a total distortion of the facts. Gutter press journalism from The Argus.

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Chris, Brighton says...
12:55pm Thu 13 Mar 08

Barry. Shoreham > "Anyone who's seen dope send close friends into a downward spiral of schizophrenic hell will know what I'm talking about."
That is not many people then.

As for the Argus, free press means freedom to report the facts, not make up a load of crap and parade it as fact.
In this case I would accept the public burning of this fiction, it has no place in our society.

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Bernard, Shoreham says...
1:21pm Thu 13 Mar 08

To everyone here bleating on about "facts" and "bad press against cannabis", read the actual article.

"The hearing, at Worthing Town Hall, was told that Miss Cross, from Limbrick Lane, had drug-induced psychosis diagnosed in 2006."

Yes - DIAGNOSED - by a DOCTOR. Though I expect you'd all like to think that the doctor is in league with the paper and is part of the whole conspiracy. Grow up, please.

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Dave, Brighton says...
2:38pm Thu 13 Mar 08

I'd suggest we all email miles.godfrey@thearg
us.co.uk and also send a letter to the editor via http://www.theargus.
co.uk/news/letters/s
endaletter/ about the disgraceful level of misreporting and sensalisation this paper has been quilty of recently. its getting worse and worse as the weeks go on.

Miles, you should be ashamed of yourself, you may want to reconsider your career as a "journalist"