A man living with Parkinson's Disease has released a YouTube video demonstrating the relief he gets from using cannabis.

Ian Frizell said the prescription medication he was given makes him feel unwell and turned to cannabis to provide relief.

He explains that he underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery earlier this year and now has a medical device implant that helps mask the symptoms of Parkinson’s.

Ian then switches the DBS device off to demonstrate the severity of his tremors.

Ian said: "I have early onset Parkinson’s Disease for which I have had deep brain stimulation surgery, which does a fair job of masking my symptoms.

"But for the purpose of this video I have switched my DBS off, so what you are seeing here is my Parkinson’s tremor with absolutely no medication whatsoever."

While shaking from severe tremors, Ian tells viewers he will use marijuana to self medicate.

He then returns after using a vapouriser to say: "You can see that my tremor has calmed down significantly.

"In fact it’s almost completely under control and the sense of relief is overwhelming."

Ian explains that he the marijuana also relieves his Dystonia, which causes his right foot to curl.

He said that he hopes the video will help promote awareness of the benefits of using cannabis for medicinal purposes.

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Earlier this week a former PSNI Deputy Chief Constable backed calls to de-criminalise cannabis saying it is time to consider the radical move.

Alan McQuillan made the revelation during a discussion with Ulster Unionist MLA Adrian Cochrane-Watson who vowed to "break the legs" of any drug dealer he caught selling illegal substances to children.

The former senior RUC Special Branch officer said on BBC Talkback that current policies have created a "big cash cow" for organised crime and referred directly to cannabis.

When asked about whether he supported calls to regulate and de-criminalise drugs, Mr McQuillan said there's a "real scope" for the idea.

"It depends on what we are trying to achieve. All we are doing at the moment with the policies the way they are is creating a big cash cow for organised crime in particular in relation to cannabis," he said. "I think other drugs are radically different. I think there's a real scope for de-criminalising cannabis.

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"It's been de-criminalised in a number of states in America and I support that. I think the time has come to consider that but by not doing that we've got to deal with what we are doing here. It should be about reducing harm, it should be about reducing damage, particularly in young people."

He said that the focus should be shifted to educating parents and children on the dangers of drugs.

He added: "We need to invest in education, to be aware that often the people who are dealing drugs are corrupted young people who are paying for a habit by dealing to other children."

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Belfast Telegraph