U.K. mum of 34-year-old epileptic man fights to give son cannabis

Image source

It’s becoming quite common to hear of parents fighting for medical cannabis treatment for their children with severe epilepsy. But there are also epileptic patients who are already grown-up, and they need medical cannabis, too.

Take for example this mother who is fighting to give her 34-year-old son medical marijuana.

Andrea Davies is seeking license to give her son, Adrian Freeman, medical cannabis to help alleviate the symptoms of his severe epilepsy. The 34-year-old Adrian has suffered serious injuries resulting from his epileptic seizures. He also has learning difficulties.

According to Andrea, her son’s epileptic fits happen daily and he has had many traumatic injuries. There was even a time Adrian had to go into the intensive care unit.

Andrea explained that when Adrian has a fit, he throws himself directly into whatever is in front of him, head-first. This fits can happen at any time.

Andrea believes that CBD oil can work wonders for her son.

Shrewbury MP Daniel Kawczynski has already expressed his support for Andrea and reassured her that the issue of medical cannabis was a high priority for the ministers. He also said he is calling for a review of Adrian’s treatment.

CBD is one of the many chemical compounds found in cannabis. And according to studies, it can reduce the frequency of seizures.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has announced earlier that cannabis-based medical treatment will be placed in Schedule 2 of the 2001 Misuse of Drugs Regulations. Rescheduling medical cannabis will allow clinicians to prescribe cannabis by autumn. However, for the time being, clinicians can still submit applications for cannabis-based drugs to the expert panel, which was set up in June.

However, Andrea said that her son’s doctors at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital aren’t properly considering giving Adrian cannabis oil to treat his symptoms. Instead, they are suggesting two forms of surgery.

According to her, she raised the possibility of using cannabis oil with Adrian’s healthcare professionals, but they dismissed the idea out of hand. Andrea said that being dismissed and being told that they can’t do it here and that there is no chance for that happening was quite demoralizing and very frustrating.

Andrea said she feels that CBD oil would be much less drastic compared to the invasive surgery that the doctors are suggesting, especially considering that this procedure is experimental and comes with its own share of risks. Plus, Adrian would not really know what was happening to him in case he undergoes surgery.