'Cannabis helped me after death of my dad - it should be given on the NHS'
A Belfast man has called on the NHS to "embrace medical cannabis" in order to stop patients from accessing it on the black market as he says that it has helped him cope with his mental health and trauma following the death of his dad.
James McConkey says NHS patients are missing out on a vital medication that could help improve their lives and stop them using "damaging" medications such as opioid painkillers that are highly addictive and have a range of different side effects.
Speaking to Belfast Live, James said that he first started using cannabis as a way to cope with the passing of his dad when he was 15 years old and believes it was vital in helping him cope with the trauma and mental health issues that he developed following this.
Read more: Inside new medical cannabis vape lounge open in Co Down town
In the years that followed he became a full-time carer for his mum and still found that cannabis was the only thing that helped him with the pressures he felt and believed that prescription drugs he was given by the doctor only added to his problems.
Now, after acquiring a medical cannabis prescription privately, he is campaigning for the NHS in Northern Ireland to prescribe it to patients and move away from giving patients "harmful" medications such as pregabalin, morphine and other opioids.
James said: "Medical cannabis is something that the NHS here in Northern Ireland could take advantage of but does not seem to be willing to and I believe that this is causing a lot of harm to people as they are forced to use much more dangerous medication.
"Opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines and pregabalin come with very risky side effects, yet are widely given out to patients by doctors who could be prescribing them medical cannabis. Some of these medications have become plagues on their communities as people become addicted to them and have their lives destroyed despite other options being available to them.
"I started using cannabis when I was a teenageer in order to cope following the death of my father, and for many years I was forced to purchase this illegally. Now that medical cannabis is legal in the UK, the NHS could do a lot to help people who medicate themselves with cannabis and take the black market out of it by prescribing patients."
James said that there is a growing medical cannabis community in Northern Ireland who are very supportive of one another and do their best to ensure that people in need are able to access treatment.
He continued: "I have been a member of the Stay Medicated vape lounge in Ballyclare for some time now and think Alan and the team there do a fantastic job and are very supportive of anyone who has an interest in medical cannabis.
"It can be very useful for a range of different conditions such as epilepsy, ADHD, autism, insomnia, eating disorders, stress and depression, and since getting my prescription I have noticed a huge change in my life.
"It has even helped me to launch my own business to support other medical cannabis users, It Is What It Is medical cannabis accessories, where I aim to provide equipment and support to others with their prescriptions.
"I used to be on countless pills everyday and now I have reduced them by half thanks to my prescription and hope that I can help others get on a better track with their physical and mental health."
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