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| Martha Fernback ecstasy death: Mother calls for drugs legalisation | Martha Fernback ecstasy death: Mother calls for drugs legalisation |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman whose 15-year-old daughter died after taking ecstasy has called for drugs to be legalised and regulated. | A woman whose 15-year-old daughter died after taking ecstasy has called for drugs to be legalised and regulated. |
| Anne-Marie Cockburn urged politicians to change UK drug policy after the inquest into the death of her daughter Martha Fernback. | Anne-Marie Cockburn urged politicians to change UK drug policy after the inquest into the death of her daughter Martha Fernback. |
| Oxford schoolgirl Martha suffered a cardiac arrest on 20 July 2013, after swallowing half a gram of 91% pure MDMA powder in the city's Hinksey Park. | Oxford schoolgirl Martha suffered a cardiac arrest on 20 July 2013, after swallowing half a gram of 91% pure MDMA powder in the city's Hinksey Park. |
| "Martha wanted to get high, she didn't want to die," said Ms Cockburn. | "Martha wanted to get high, she didn't want to die," said Ms Cockburn. |
| "No parent wants either, but one of those is preferable to the other," she said after the hearing at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court. | "No parent wants either, but one of those is preferable to the other," she said after the hearing at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court. |
| The inquest heard that the average street-level purity of ecstasy is 58%. | The inquest heard that the average street-level purity of ecstasy is 58%. |
| Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter recorded a verdict of accidental death. | Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter recorded a verdict of accidental death. |
| Ms Cockburn said: "It has been 328 days since my precious girl was safely by my side. | Ms Cockburn said: "It has been 328 days since my precious girl was safely by my side. |
| "I wish Martha was sitting her GCSEs alongside her friends at school right now. | "I wish Martha was sitting her GCSEs alongside her friends at school right now. |
| "I wish the drug education she received had enabled her to make a more fully informed decision, instead of leaving her so vulnerable and in danger. | "I wish the drug education she received had enabled her to make a more fully informed decision, instead of leaving her so vulnerable and in danger. |
| "I would like to meet with Theresa May, Norman Baker and Yvette Cooper to start a sensible dialogue for change, from prohibition to strict and responsible regulation of recreational drugs. | "I would like to meet with Theresa May, Norman Baker and Yvette Cooper to start a sensible dialogue for change, from prohibition to strict and responsible regulation of recreational drugs. |
| "This will help to safeguard our children and lead to a safer society for us all by putting doctors and pharmacists, not dealers, in control of drugs." | "This will help to safeguard our children and lead to a safer society for us all by putting doctors and pharmacists, not dealers, in control of drugs." |
| Crime prevention minister Norman Baker said: "All drug-related deaths are tragic and my sympathy goes to Martha's mother. | |
| "The UK's approach on drugs remains clear: we must prevent drug use in our communities, help dependent individuals through treatment and wider recovery support, while ensuring law enforcement protects society by stopping the supply." | "The UK's approach on drugs remains clear: we must prevent drug use in our communities, help dependent individuals through treatment and wider recovery support, while ensuring law enforcement protects society by stopping the supply." |
| He added: "We do not assume that we have nothing to learn from others, which is why we are conducting an international study to examine the approaches other countries are taking on drugs." | He added: "We do not assume that we have nothing to learn from others, which is why we are conducting an international study to examine the approaches other countries are taking on drugs." |
| Following Martha's death, Ms Cockburn set up a website and has written a book called 5,742 days - the number of days Martha lived - to tell others about the dangers of drugs. | Following Martha's death, Ms Cockburn set up a website and has written a book called 5,742 days - the number of days Martha lived - to tell others about the dangers of drugs. |
| Alex Williams, 17, of Sycamore Road, Botley, was given a community sentence in March for supplying the drugs that killed Martha. | Alex Williams, 17, of Sycamore Road, Botley, was given a community sentence in March for supplying the drugs that killed Martha. |
| In March, Ms Cockburn told the BBC she wanted to work with Williams to offer drug education talks to young people. | In March, Ms Cockburn told the BBC she wanted to work with Williams to offer drug education talks to young people. |