Load of dopes

THE Seanad, as everybody and his dog knows, is as useful as a chocolate teapot and must be got rid of, but I am now beginning to think the Dáil should go too.

Apparently the Joint Committee on Health has recommended that the Cannabis for Medicinal Use Bill proceeds no further.

What a shower of useless, insensitive, uncaring, heartless individuals they are.

What planet have these people been on for the past few years? Have they not read or heard of the weekly progress of the young Ava Twomey who suffers multiple epileptic seizures every day?

Her brave mother Vera has had to go to the Netherlands to get medicinal cannabis treatment for Ava, this treatment considerably reduces the frequency of seizures.

The Government should be thoroughly ashamed of itself that we have to send our sick citizens to a foreign country for treatment which should be readily available at home. Disgraceful!

Keep in mind also that An Garda Síochána is in possession of more than 1,900 kilos of cannabis, which they seized from criminals recently and which, if converted to medicinal cannabis, would save hundreds of unfortunate individuals from a lot of pain and discomfort.

It would also save the HSE millions on the medicines used for Ava’s complaint and other medical complaints for which medicinal cannabis has proven to be suitable. It really is a no-brainer.

JOHN FAIR, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.