DAD ‘NEVER GAVE UP’
‘Selfless’ husband who fought for use of medicinal cannabis dies aged 33
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DAD who took cannabis oil (CBD) to prolong his life after being diagnosed with a brain tumour has died at the age of 33.
Philip James was a staunch advocate of CBD, which contains the banned tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The father-of-one from Oakenholt, Flintshire, said it shrank his tumour and staved off debilitating seizures, allowing him to spend longer with his wife Nicola and their 15-monthold daughter, Phoebe.
He was diagnosed at the end of 2015 with a grade-three tumour, which dramatically reduced in size after he took the drug.
But last February, Philip suffered a minor stroke and a CAT scan revealed he had a secondary tumour, which caused him to suffer a series of falls.
He died last Sunday at Nightingale House Hospice after being told he had months left to live.
His devastated widow Nicola paid tribute to the “best husband”, who always believed in her.
She said: “Phil was the most selfless person I knew.
“Throughout his entire cancer journey, he was always helping others, even those without the disease or with a different medical condition.
“He would help friends and family of those fighting.
“He fought so hard for medicinal cannabis, trying to make people aware, whether that was going down and standing outside Parliament or handing out leaflets in Chester.
“From day one, he always said ‘I will never give up’, and he didn’t.
“He fought so hard to the very end.” She added: “He was the best husband, he always believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.
“And when our beautiful daughter, Phoebe, came along, he was the best dad. He was so hands-on and he was absolutely besotted with her.
“He was the most loving son to his parents, Linda and Nick.
“I am glad he’s at peace now and finally free from that awful disease. I’ll miss him always, and love him forever.”
Philip was a staunch advocate of cannabis oil and strict diets as a way of tackling certain cancers, and wanted to see more research carried out.
After suffering seizures every six to eight weeks, he went almost two years without one after adopting his selfadministered treatment regimen.
The drug was legalised on November 1, 2018, under strict conditions for medicinal use if prescribed by an appropriate consultant
Under the law, it cannot be prescribed by a GP, and the government has kept little to no stocks of the drug, making it largely unavailable.
Philip said last year the Government was forcing him to “break the law or die” despite trials having shown the drug helps with epileptic seizures and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Philip’s funeral will be held at Christ Church, Newtown, Chester, on Monday, January 20, at 1.30pm followed by interment at Hawarden Cemetery.