An Ulster Unionist Councillor with MS has slammed the cruelty of the continuing political stalemate at Stormont for potentially blocking the roll-out of new life-changing medicinal cannabis products. Following last week’s announcement that new cannabis-derived products were to be legalised in England, the situation remains unclear for patients in Northern Ireland as the rescheduling of such products is a devolved matter and has been confirmed to require legislative change.
Fermanagh and Omagh Councillor Victor Warrington said:
“The recent announcement by the Home Office that cannabis-derived products are to be legalised for medicinal purposes was long-overdue and something that I very much welcomed.
“The number and range of conditions that can benefit from the medication are vast. In 2018 I think it is only right and proper that patients are given every chance of medical support, including new and clinically proven methods of treatment and new and innovative forms of medication.
“As a MS sufferer, this is one of the conditions that could benefit from of taking cannabis based treatments. It has been well tested, trialled and re-trialled so the medicinal capabilities, such as helping to alleviate several of the symptoms related to MS, are irrefutable. MS is known as the invisible disease with a huge amount of people affected with vision problems, tingling and numbness, pains and spasm, weakness or fatigue, balance problems or dizziness, bladder issues and cognitive problems.
“I was fortunate to have received what I considered to be a revolutionary new treatment in 2015 which has helped with my condition but if these new medical products were available, and my GP thought it would be of benefit to me, I for one would be content to explore them.
“No doubt the recent high profile case of Billy Caldwell has helped the UK Government reach this decision, but shamefully, it looks likely that the ongoing impasse at Stormont and the politicking of Sinn Fein and the DUP is going to get in the way of it being rolled out across Northern Ireland.
“For the sake of future Billy Caldwell’s and MS patients, as well as those with cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, I would urge them to not get in the way of these potentially life changing drugs. In the meantime I would urge the Secretary of State to intervene to ensure that patients in Northern Ireland are not further penalised for the failure of the two largest parties.”
