Patrick Stewart backs use of medicinal cannabis for Alfie Dingley, six-year-old boy with seizures Actor Sir Patrick Stewart has backed a family’s plea for their son to be given medicinal cannabis as he joined […]

Actor Sir Patrick Stewart has backed a family’s plea for their son to be given medicinal cannabis as he joined them to hand over a petition signed by 380,000 people.

Alfie Dingley, 6, suffers from a rare condition and needs cannabis oil to help reduce his seizures.

His parents, Drew Dingley and Hannah Deacon, want the Government to let him use the medication, a banned substance in the UK.

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‘Positive meeting’

Sir Patrick – known the world over for this roles in films such as X-Men and Star Trek – uses medicinal cannabis to treat his arthritis while living in California.

He said: “How could one not support Alfie? Hearing what his life has been and the benefits given to him by being able to use medicinal marijuana.

“There has never been a stronger case for the legalisation of medical marijuana.

“I have been registered for medical marijuana in California for over three years and have found it immensely beneficial for my arthritis.

“I had to have eight steroid injections in my fingers and knuckles, which was about as painful as anything one could imagine, because medicinal cannabis is not available here.”

Alfie’s family met with Prime Minister Theresa May and other ministers to hand over their petition, with Ms Deacon saying the meeting had been a success.

“We had a positive meeting, they accept the compassionate issuing of a licence for Alfie,” she said.

“Now we need our medical professionals to write the prescription and they will expedite the licence for him.”

Exploring the options

Other high profile names who have supported Alfie – who can suffer up to 150 seizures per day – include actress Joanna Lumley and businessman Sir Richard Branson.

Mrs May’s official spokesman said the Prime Minister had previously written to the Dingley family to express her sympathies and “reiterate the Government’s commitment to explore a range of options to find a solution for Alfie”.

Alfie Dingley’s family shouldn’t have to break the law to get a medicine they need – medicinal drug use shouldn’t be a matter of criminal justice, but a matter of public health https://t.co/ivRuE49X8n @End_Our_Pain pic.twitter.com/Js0ArYhoN7 — Richard Branson (@richardbranson) March 14, 2018

They added: “That work is ongoing and is being led by senior clinicians.

“What we have said is that it is important that medicines are thoroughly tested to ensure they meet rigorous standards before being placed on the market, so that doctors and patients are assured of their quality and safety.”

The spokesman said that Mrs May was opposed to the decriminalisation of cannabis.

Asked whether decriminalisation was one of the options under consideration in the current work, he said: “We have said when we’ve looked at this in the past that we are looking at specific solutions in relation to Alfie and what can be done to help him.”