Keeping medical cannabis from children is callous, and foolish | Ian Birrell

Alfie Dingley, who has severe epilepsy, is suffering pointlessly. What will it take to make our government see sense?

The first medical marijuana dispensaries in Pennsylvania have opened their doors over the past few days. Thousands of patients with serious medical conditions have registered to access the drug, which comes in oils, patches and vaporisers, rather than smokable leaf form. The historic first purchase in the state was by Diana Briggs, the mother of a teenage son with severe epilepsy. “I am beyond thrilled,” she said. “There’s no more fear, no more stress for our family.”

Related: Boy with rare form of epilepsy denied cannabis oil treatment

Families with epilepsy are allowed to routinely use stronger, more addictive drugs such as barbiturates

Related: ‘I’m a pot evangelist’: meet America's dope queens

Continue reading... February 19, 2018 at 09:56PM