Mum’s plea to First Minister: Help my son
A mum is pleading with Nicola Sturgeon to support her campaign to get medicinal cannabis for her son.
Lisa Quarrell has written to Miss Sturgeon to back her campaign to make it legal for six-year-old son Cole, to be given the drug to treat his uncontrolled epilepsy.
The East Kilbride schoolboy’s seizures are so severe they are robbing of him of his ability to walk, concentrate and remember schoolwork.
He lost his balance in the school playground last week and fell, injuring his face.
Lisa, 37, said: “The UK Government’s recent changes to medicinal cannabis mean that children with epilepsy are only able to get the drug for only two conditions or after major surgery.
“Cole has a different type of epilepsy and surgery failed to stop major seizures which are now paralysing his right side.
“I know of other children whose seizures have been hugely reduced on medicinal cannabis and who got it from the NHS.”
Drug laws are reserved to Westminster but Lisa is hoping that with Ms Sturgeon’s support, a way can be found around the problem.
“I am a former police officer and only want to do what it legally possible to access Cole medicinal cannabis,” she said.
“Importing it into the country is not an option for me as a mother.
“There is surely some way we can work within the law to help Cole.”