Cannabis legalization: A mum set out to walk 150 miles

A mother has a firm belief that cannabis can end sufferings of her six years old daughter and criminalization of weed is a hurdle in the way to get effective treatment. Vera Twomey set out to walk 150 miles from the remote County Cork village of Aghabullogue to the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) in Dublin demanding legalization of cannabis for medical purposes. 

The mother-of-four whose daughter, Ava, has a severe form epilepsy, decided to launch a campaign when her six-year old have another violent seizure.

Previously, MS Twomey has submitted a petition to the Republic of Ireland legislature asking them for legislation of cannabis she believes would save her daughter’s life.

Cannabis remains illegal and Ireland and UK, though it is available legally in Australia and parts of US for medical use. Clinical probing reveals that Ava’s rare condition, called Dravet syndrome, can respond well to a component of cannabis – THC.

None of the prescribed medicines have helped Ava since she was diagnosed. To the agony of her parents, they were told seizures could cause her death.

But when child was given CBD – a legal form of cannabis oil – she showed a remarkable improvement.

"From the time Ava began taking it on 2 October until the end of the month, she only had seven seizures - usually she would have hundreds. We just couldn't believe the difference," Ms Twomey told BBC News NI.

"Suddenly, she was talking more, smiling more, she wasn't in as much pain and even in school they said she was interacting more with staff and pupils."

The dramatic results strengthened Ms Twomey belief that THC could reduce her symptoms by up to 90%.

"She has astonished doctors with her progress over the past month, but imagine what she could achieve if we accessed medication that has been proven to work even more effectively in the US and elsewhere?

"I was shaking with fear as I left the house, not knowing whether or not I was doing the right thing, but I couldn't in my wildest dreams have imagined we would get the support we got, from Wexford, Blarney and beyond," she told BBC.

She requested health minister to listen to her.

BBC reported that health minister contacted her when she was nine hours into her journey and 21 miles away from her home. She was told health minister would meet her next week.

Ms Twomey postponed her walk.

"I have to take the minister at his word, give him time to hear us out and trust that he will take action," she said.

X"I just want Ava to be a healthy child with a normal life - she's a great little girl who deserves it."