Sir Mike Penning, Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead and former Policing Minister, has welcomed news that Alfie Dingley has been granted a special licence on compassionate grounds to use cannabis oil to treat his rare form of epilepsy.
Sir Mike MP said: “I am absolutely delighted that Alfie has been granted his special licence. I said in the House that I was prepared to lead a group of MPs to go overseas to get the cannabis oil medication if he wasn’t granted a licence.
“Numerous MPs offered to join me but I am very pleased that I will not have to go through with this, but I would have done it if I had needed to.
“I was with Alfie Dingley and his family when they met the Prime Minister and she promised them the Government would grant a licence on compassionate grounds – that was nearly three months ago.
“We need to make sure that the law is changed so that access to cannabis-based medication is available to those who genuinely need and would benefit from it. Prescribed medical cannabis should not be treated the same way as cannabis used as a recreational drug.
“Alfie’s family have been steadfast throughout this complex process and they have acted in the correct way at every step. I commend the way they have conducted this campaign, but we must make it easier for other children with these rare diseases so that they and their families are not put through the same ordeal.
“A victory for common sense, certainly, but there is more to be done to make prescribed medical cannabis available to patients who need it.”
0 Comments