Janie Hamilton's son James died aged just 36 when he refused to have chemotherapy for testicular cancer after years battling mental illness.

His death was recorded as being partly caused by schizophrenia, which his family believe was triggered by his addiction to cannabis from the age of 14. Here, Mrs Hamilton from North Dorset, warns that the dangers of the drug are being forgotten following Lord Hague's call for the UK to legalise marijuana for recreational use.

As a child, James was a fun-loving, mischievous boy with a great sense of humour. He was a brilliant writer and dreamed of being a journalist.

It was only after he began smoking cannabis when he was 14 that his behaviour became erratic.

We had no idea he using cannabis until he was about 15. James went to stay with his aunt with a couple of his friends, who we think introduced him to the drug.


Image: Janie Hamilton said her son's 'erratic' behaviour started after he began using cannabis. Pic: Family handout

She caught James smoking and told my husband who later confronted him.

James was always extremely truthful and never lied so he would admit using cannabis. But it didn't stop him. He used it whenever he could get hold of it.

He went to university, where he was using cannabis all the time, but dropped out after one term because he couldn't cope.

For the next six months he was living with us and his behaviour became increasingly bizarre.

He became obsessed with his appearance. He bleached his hair, then shaved his hair off. He shaved his eye brows and cut his eye lashes.

He stripped his bedroom of everything apart from a futon. He believed he was going to be the head of the SAS and the president of the United States.

Image: James became addicted to cannabis at the age of 14. Pic: Family handout

One day, when James was 20, he spent all night turning in circles saying: "I'm free, I'm free", while waving his arms.

It was then that I had to call a doctor and James was sectioned - but on his first day on the ward he got hold of cannabis again.

James would go on medication and get better, then come off medication and do something bizarre which meant he was sectioned again. It was a cycle for 16 years.

We're not sure when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer because he didn't tell us at first. He was in a mental hospital at the time.

Image: James pictured at a hospice with his father. Pic: Family handout

We finally found out when James visited Richmond Park, one of his favourite places, with my husband and said: "I've got the big C."

My husband was stunned but James didn't seem fearful. He didn't think he was going to die. The consultant made it as clear as possible for him but it made no difference.

James was out of touch with reality because of the effects of his cannabis use. It's absolutely devastating because he didn't need to die.

It was a very treatable form of cancer and he could still be here today.

My husband and I went out for a walk with James to try to persuade him to have treatment but he still refused. It had no impact on him.

Near the end of his life I was allowed to move into the hospice caring for James.

I told him he was the best son I could have ever had and he said I was the best mother he could have ever had.

He passed away in the hospice's courtyard on 31 July 2015.

As a family, we're still dealing with the ongoing devastation. I still cry. There's disbelief that he's gone because his cancer was so treatable.

After our experience, I was angry seeing William Hague call for cannabis to be legalised.

Image: Lord Hague wants the government to legalise cannabis for recreational use

A politician - or anyone else, for that matter - who has not lived, first hand, through someone addicted to the drug, has no perception of the devastation it causes.

We're all made differently. There will be young people who have used cannabis like James did and got away with it. But the make-up of some people makes them more susceptible to mental illness.

While I accept cannabis oil should be allowed for medicinal purposes, I'm concerned that the dangers of drugs are being forgotten.

William Hague may perhaps think it would glamorise the Conservative Party but it's not glamorous on the streets or in mental hospitals.

If people had witnessed what I had for 16 years in mental health wards, with patients young and old shuffling about, their lives derailed, they would not be so casual about the potential impact of cannabis on individuals.