Medical cannabis campaigning mum Lisa Quarrell is to join expert doctors in the field at an event in the capital to share her son's life-changing story.
The East Kilbride mum-of-two, whose ten-year-old son Cole Thomson lives with severe drug-resistant epilepsy, will address Scottish clinicians and patients at Medical Cannabis: Everything You Need to Know - a practical introduction to medical cannabis and CBD - in Edinburgh on September 13.
The event is open to clinicians, medical students, scientists, researchers, professionals and patients curious about medical cannabis and the current state of prescribing, evidence and availability in the UK.
Lisa hopes that with more evidence on their effectiveness, NHS consultants will get the reassurances they need to consider prescribing more cannabis-based medicines.
She told Lanarkshire Live : "I was asked to speak at the event in Edinburgh to share Cole's journey and my campaign on accessing medical cannabis through NHS Scotland.
"I will be telling Cole’s story and my fight over the past four years. On stage I’ll be joined by Dr Anna Ross who is an expert in her field, a very good friend of mine and massive support in my battle for Cole."
Fighting an ongoing battle to secure an NHS prescription for her son, Lisa says Cole is “living proof” of the effectiveness of cannabis oil.
Crippled by multiple daily seizures, wheelchair-bound and in hospital fighting for his life just four years ago, the ten-year-old is now seizure-free, thriving at school and back training at taekwondo with dreams of becoming a black belt.
However Lisa is under huge financial strain with her family having to source £1300 every month to pay for a private cannabis oil prescription.
Cole receives Bedrolite privately as his NHS consultant is not allowed to prescribe unlicensed medical cannabis due to a lack of robust evidence of the drug’s safety, quality or efficacy.
A four-year battle for government funding has resulted in nothing, with the family forking out in excess of £80,000 to keep the youngster seizure-free in that time.
Medical cannabis expert, Professor Mike Barnes, will host the event with Dr Liz Iveson - a neuro rehabilitation and internal medicine consultant, and one of the first prescribers of the treatment in the UK.
They will speak alongside Dr Anna Ross, drug policy stakeholder expert and lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, as well as Katya Kowalski, head of operations at Volteface.
Professor Barnes, chairman of the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society (MCCS) said: "The event is a fantastic opportunity for clinicians, medical students and patients to learn the facts about this treatment and practical steps to prescribing and accessing a legal prescription."
The two hour event will offer networking opportunities before a panel Q&A for attendees following the speakers.
The MCCS is made up of over 300 clinicians, including specialist consultants in a wide range of specialisms, GPs, nurses and allied health professionals.
Hannah Deacon, vice chairwoman of the MCCS, said: "We believe that everyone who could benefit from medical cannabis should have access to it.
"Our mission is to give clinicians access to evidence, training, expert guidance, peer support and licensed product information so they can prescribe life-changing medical cannabis treatments to all patients in the UK, on the NHS.”
Working together to increase access to this treatment, members share best practice, learn from each other, and provide regular expert support to their peers.
The event is taking place at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre and is £10 to attend with discounted rates for medical students.
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