Noel McCullagh moved to the Netherlands to start his career at Oog Radio in 2000, in 2006 he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Physicians treating the symptoms of the neurological, chronic condition prescribed Bediol and Bedrocan, government approved and produced medicinal cannabis after trying him on an unsuccessful course of conventional medicine.

The Irish government have told Mr McCullagh that if he enters the country with his prescribed medication he will face immediate arrest.

Despite British officials accepting him into the UK under the Schengen Agreement, the Irish Government insist he cannot enter as they did not sign this part of the agreement and as cannabis remains a controlled drug they cannot allow it to be sold or used within Ireland. (Deputy Michael Kitt - 28th May 2008 Galway Independent Newspaper)

Mr McCullagh has the sympathy of EU Ombudsman Nikiforos Diamandouros and Independent TD Luke 'Ming' Flanagan who says the governement should use its discretion and show leniency in the matter. CLEAR endorses this appeal.

Mr McCullagh has not been able to visit his parents Michael and Ann who live in Ireland since he began his treatment in 2007, a two day trip to France without his medication saw him hospitalised.

After spending several years desperately trying to appeal this decision, Noel’s condition is now deteriorating quickly, MS is worsened by stressful situations and being denied the right to return to his home country has made his condition worse. He is now close to dying and suicidal at the thought of being unable to visit his parents.

Cannabis has been subject of much debate, but has a recognised medicinal benefit to MS sufferers and also many other debilitating illnesses in many European Countries and 15 states of the USA.
The British governments gave a licence to GW Pharmaceuticals to produce Sativex, a tincture of cannabis, but British citizens have found it extremely difficult to get. Just a handful of British MS sufferers are being treated with Sativex in the UK.

Cannabis relieves spasticity of multiple sclerosis, it relieves pain, helps with bladder control, anxiety, tingling in face/arms/legs/trunk, weakness in legs, ability to walk, tiredness, constipation, sexual functionality, memory loss and weight loss, see:
 http://www.druglibrary.net/olsen/HEMP/IHA/jiha4101.html

Peter Reynolds, CLEAR’s newly elected leader commented, “ "This is a tragic case but Noel is one amongst millions all over the world who are cruelly treated because of the completely unjustifiable prohibition of medicinal cannabis. The Irish government could end this evil injustice with a single stroke of a pen. Why won't they?"

Clark French of Action4MS said “It’s outrageous that in a supposed civilised society, a person is stopped from visiting their home and seeing their family because of a medicine that has been scientifically proven to help MS. The current licencing of Sativex in various EU countries and 15 states in America testifies to the medicinal benefits of the cannabis plant, especially for MS. The Irish government is consciously reducing a man to the point where he seeks to end his own life through euthanasia - this is just disgusting”

Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR) was recently registered as a political party in the UK. Its aims and objectives are:

To end the prohibition of cannabis.
To promote as a matter of urgency and compassion the prescription of medicinal cannabis by doctors.
To introduce a system of regulation for the production and supply of cannabis based on facts and evidence.
To encourage the production and use of industrial hemp.
To educate and inform about the uses and benefits of cannabis.




# # #



If you would like more information or would like to arrange an interview please call

Peter Reynolds +44(0)1305833516 +44(0)7880872022 or email  clara@clear-uk.org.