Clare Hodges (6 July 1957 – 23 August 2011), also known as Elizabeth Brice, was an English activist who advanced the medical understanding of

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species be ...

and campaigned for its widespread benefit as a therapeutic medicine in the United Kingdom. Clare Hodges is the pseudonym that Elizabeth Brice used, Clare being her middle name and Hodges her mother's maiden name. She was diagnosed with

multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting in damage to myelinthe insulating covers of nerve cellsin the brain and spinal cord. As a demyelinating disease, MS disrupts the nervous system's ability to Action potential, transmit ...

(MS) at age 26 but it was nearly 10 years before she tried cannabis to alleviate the symptoms. Hodges found that cannabis greatly alleviated her condition. It was this that motivated her to become an avid

cannabis rights Cannabis rights or marijuana rights (sometimes more specifically cannabis consumer rights or stoner rights) are individual civil rights that vary by jurisdiction. The rights of people who consume cannabis include the right to be free from emplo ...

campaigner. Consequently, Hodges founded the Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics (ACT) in 1992 with two other patients. The ACT worked to provide advice and assistance to other individuals with MS or other medical conditions which might benefit from the use of cannabis. Hodges took the matter to the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

in 1998 where she spoke about the benefits she had found from the therapeutic use of this illicit drug. She stated "''Cannabis helps my body relax. I function and move much easier. The physical effects are very clear. It is not just a vague feeling of well-being''". Despite the backing of several members of the House of Lords, and

Austin Mitchell Austin Vernon Mitchell (19 September 1934 – 18 August 2021) was a British academic, journalist and Labour Party politician who was the member of Parliament (MP) for Great Grimsby from a 1977 by-election to 2015. He was also the chair of ...

MP, the ACT was unable to change the law in the UK with regards to the use of cannabis. Hodges later went on to join the board of directors of the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM) as a patient representative from 2001 until her death in 2011. Nonetheless, Hodges worked with Dr William Notcutt to ensure GW Pharmaceuticals took up the issue and as a result

Sativex Nabiximols ( USAN), sold under the brand name Sativex, is a specific ''Cannabis'' extract that was approved in 2010 as a botanical drug in the United Kingdom. Nabiximols is sold as a mouth spray intended to alleviate neuropathic pain, spasticit ...

is now available as an alternative. She also addressed the

European Parliament The European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it ...

in Brussels following which the law was changed in Belgium. Due to deteriorating health as a result of her MS, Hodges handed over the articles and patient transcripts to the

Wellcome Trust The Wellcome Trust is a charitable foundation focused on health research based in London, United Kingdom. It was established in 1936 with legacies from the pharmaceutical magnate Henry Wellcome (founder of Burroughs Wellcome, one of the predec ...

in 2009. On 17 April 2024, a

blue plaque A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom, and certain other countries and territories, to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving a ...

was unveiled in

Meanwood Meanwood is a suburb and former village in north-west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The area sits in the Moortown ward of Leeds City Council and Leeds North East parliamentary constituency. Origins and history The name Meanwood goes back ...

, commemorating the lives of both Hodges and her husband.

Personal life

Hodges was born in Manchester. She studied Latin and Greek at

Somerville College, Oxford Somerville College is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It was founded in 1879 as Somerville Hall, one of its first two women's colleges. It began admitting men in 1994. The colle ...

. She then went on to pursue a career in medical journalism, first writing for a newspaper for doctors before becoming a producer at

Yorkshire Television ITV Yorkshire, previously known as Yorkshire Television and commonly referred to as just YTV, is the British television service provided by ITV Broadcasting Limited for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV (TV network), ITV network. Until 19 ...

working on a number of medical documentaries, including several with Dr Miriam Stoppard. Hodges was married to Duncan Dallas, founder of

Café Scientifique Café Scientifique currently exists in more than 60 towns and cities across the United Kingdom and world-wide. It was the idea of Duncan Dallas, from Leeds, who was impressed by the Café Philosophique session he saw in France. Café Scientifiqu ...

, and has two sons.

References

External links

House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hodges, Clare Health professionals from Manchester Alumni of Somerville College, Oxford British cannabis activists Deaths from multiple sclerosis People with multiple sclerosis Neurological disease deaths in the United Kingdom English women activists 1957 births 2011 deaths English people with disabilities