Politicians dragged their heels too long over cannabis use

THE tortured searches by the parents of Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley for life-saving treatments for their children have been widely reported. After years of requests, both have been granted access to medical cannabis under a “special license” from the Home Secretary.

While this “special” solution to their problems is welcomed, it begs many questions. One is: what would have happened if they didn’t have such determined mothers?A second question is how many other children (and probably adults) have died from cannabis-treatable epilepsy since the anticonvulsant properties became recognised several decades ago?

I would estimate that there have been hundreds of preventable deaths, a similar number to that in the current Gosport hospital scandal. So where is the clamour to hold those who perpetrated this denial of epilepsy treatment to account, like there is for the doctors and nurses who allowed Gosport to run unchecked?

The denial of the medical benefits of cannabis is one of the worst examples of medical censorship ever perpetuated.

We also need an independent review of the rationale for the medical ban of other “recreational” drugs such as magic mushrooms and MDMA that also have proven therapeutic value.

David Nutt

Imperial College London