Alfie Dingley, Six-Year-Old With Rare Epilepsy, And His Mum To Present Cannabis Petition To Government

A six-year-old boy suffering with a rare form of epilepsy and his mum are presenting a petition to the Government today [20 March] to be granted a licence to use medical cannabis.

Alfie Dingley’s epilepsy, PCDH19, triggers multiple serious seizures and at one point he had 3,000 seizures and 48 hospital visits in a year. He has previously travelled to Holland - where cannabis oil is available for medical purposes - and it improved things “dramatically”.

In February 2018, the government quashed Alfie’s hopes to get permission to use medical cannabis as the Home Office said the drug “cannot be practically prescribed, administered or supplied to the public”. Today, Alfie and his mum, Hannah Deacon, from Warwickshire, will present the Change.org petition, which has more than 370,000 signatures in Parliament.

“This isn’t a time for bureaucracy - this is a time for compassion,” Deacon said, according to the BBC. “I don’t want to break the law by going to Holland and bringing his medical cannabis into the UK illegally. And why should I have to do that?”

In February, members of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on drug policy reform called on the Home Office to issue a licence for Alfie to continue taking the medication, which he is currently not permitted to have in the UK. “It would be heartless and cruel not to allow Alfie to access the medication he needs to make his life as seizure-free as possible and to keep him out of hospital,” said Crispin Blunt, co-chair of the APPG.

“Parliament really must look at reforming our laws to allow access to cannabis for medical purposes, which has huge public support. Right now, however, the Home Secretary can grant a special licence for Alfie to get the drug he needs.”

Since news of Alfie’s petition gained popularity, Deacon said many people have written to their local MPs urging them to meet the family. In Early March, former justice minister Sir Mike Penning said he had “huge sympathy” for Alfie.

The MP for Hemel Hempstead said in his view there was “substantial scientific evidence showing that cannabis is a harmful drug and, in its street form, is a gateway drug for many users”.

The Times also reported that Dr Lord Winston, a fertility pioneer, backed the family’s pleas for the licence to take the medicine in Britain.

You can follow Alfie’s journey on his Facebook page ‘Alfie’s Hope’.

Before You Go

Yes, You CAN Make A Family Walk Fun

Don't say 'who wants to go for a walk?'(01 of08)

Reframe a walk so it's enticing and exciting using words like explore, play, adventure.Who wants to climb a castle or who wants to find some treasure or skim stones? (credit:Alexander Nicholson via Getty Images)

Don't plod in a straight line - and back again.(02 of08)

Choose a wiggly walk and terrain made for adventuring. "It's all about keeping children's minds off putting one foot in front of another," says Clare Lewis. (credit:Stephen Lux via Getty Images)

Always have an appealing destination - and make pit-stops along the way.(03 of08)

It could be a café with their favourite hot chocolate or their 'secret' place like a climbing tree. Make regular stops to admire natural curiosities, make a den, whittle a stick or play in water or whatever you fancy. Encourage your kids to take photos. Clare Lewis's family always take 'scroggin'; a New Zealand name for a hikers' mix of nuts and seeds, dried fruit and chocolate to keep energy levels up. (credit:ArtMarie via Getty Images)

Join forces with another family or get the kids to bring their friends.(04 of08)

Children love the sociability of a walk and bringing friends increases their activity as they challenge each other to jump the highest or widest, splash in puddles, climb trees or find the best stick. (credit:Alistair Berg via Getty Images)

Walk together in a chatty clod, not a single line with you barking 'come on, keep up'(05 of08)

There may be times you have to walk in a line, but take turns with who's the leader. Also, let your children choose the route (within reason!). (credit:Bounce via Getty Images)

Play games as you go.(06 of08)

Hide-and-seek, capture the flag or ambushes - sending kids on ahead so they can jump out on you - are all favourites. Bring a ball or a Frisbee to play with too. (credit:JLPH via Getty Images)

Turn your walk into a treasure hunt. Or an obstacle course.(07 of08)

Children love places to clamber over like a rocky beach or challenges like climbing trees or jumping over streams. Challenge children to touch that tree and run back, hopscotch between the pavement cracks or run along the low wall. "You could go on a shape walk, finding stones, shells and leaves that are all the same shape," suggests Clare Lewis, co-author of Adventure Walks for Families in and Around London. (credit:Imgorthand via Getty Images)

End on a high.(08 of08)

Match a walk to your kids' ages. You don't want want to leave them exhausted. Talk up what fun you had, so next time you suggest an adventure walk they leap at the chance. (credit:ArtMarie via Getty Images)