Derry Calls For Health Minister To Open Debate On Legalising Medical Cannabis

The suggestion of a discussion on legalising cannabis for medical use was made following Monday’s story in the Derry News of Derry man, Chris McDaid, who was prosecuted in the Republic of Ireland for growing cannabis.

- Ursula Duddy

POLITICIANS and political parties in Derry have called for the Health Minister to open a new debate on the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal use.

Chris has a 10-year-old son, Cian, who suffers from a rare incurable disease called Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T). Many sufferers of the disease do not live into their 20s.

A-T has a host of symptoms including predisposition to cancer, susceptibility to severe infection and difficulty walking and moving.

Chris, a qualified marine scientist, spent years researching the use of medicinal cannabis. After seeing its positive effects on other children like his son, he took the risk and grew the type of cannabis plant in a house in Carrigans, Co Donegal, which would help him create the medicinal oil to help his child.

However, An Garda Síochána raided the property in October 2015 and Chris was arrested. Last week, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment which was suspended for a year.

Following an emotional court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan was sympathetic, saying of Chris: “He is a man of great scientific knowledge and has been doing his own research and put great energy into helping his son.

“I believe he involved himself in this scheme to obtain cannabinoid oil to help his child, he was never in this enterprise for profit and had no intention of selling drugs on the market.

“He was involving himself for good motives.”

The Derry News contacted local political parties for their stance on cannabis for medicinal use.

The SDLP, Sinn Féin, DUP, Alliance and independent councillor, Gary Donnelly, all agreed that there needs to be a discussion on the matter and that evidence on the use of medicinal cannabis with a view to legalisation must be made available.