Petition for cannabis access hits12,000

A petition calling for prescription cannabis for Cole Thomson has smashed 12,000 signatures in just over a week.

East Kilbride Community Trust’s (EKCT)‘Save Cole Thomson’campaign asks the Scottish Government to support the six-year-old’s family and provide legal access to medical cannabis for the youngster.

Trialling the drug would be the family’s preferred move rather than invasive surgery, as it would give him the opportunity to try a more natural drug which has proved successful for children like Cole all over the world.

EKCT chief executive officer Monique McAdams said:“We set ourselves a goal of 10,000 signatures and I’m over the moon to say we smashed it. It’s a small victory but we will take it as a first step.

“They say a week’s a long time in politics where anything can happen.

“I’d say the very same thing about our first week in launching our campaign to the Scottish Government to give Cole Thomson legal access to prescription medicinal cannabis.”

The charity has sent a letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon asking for her support.

Meanwhile, Central Scotland Labour MSP Monica Lennon has highlighted Cole’s plight in Holyrood while health secretary Jeane Freeman has agreed to look into his case.

Ms Freeman said:“I’m grateful to Ms Lennon for her supplementary question and I absolutely understand the issues she is raising and the distress and upset that is caused to the family.

“The issue around the prescribing of the medicinal cannabis, of course, rests on the regulatory changes from the UK Government – they came into effect on November 1 and we issued guidance to our health boards and practitioners very quickly at that time.

“I am happy to look further at this case and to speak with the member concerned around the particular questions that it raises and to see what further we can do as a Scottish Government and as a health service to assist in this matter.”

Ms Lennon has vowed to continue to raise the matter with the government on on behalf of Cole and his family.

She told the News:“I’ll keep working with Cole’s family while they try to get him the medicine and care he urgently needs.

“The petition launched by East Kilbride Community Trust has given local people a really practical way of supporting Cole and his story has touched people across Scotland.

“I’m grateful to the East Kilbride News for keeping Cole in everyone’s hearts and minds. This little boy needs our support.”