The Women's Podcast

The Women's Podcast


Ep 334 Medicinal Cannabis Campaigner Vera Twomey

September 16, 2019

In today’s episode, Cork woman Vera Twomey talks to Kathy about her memoir, For Ava. Ava is Vera's daughter and she suffers from Dravet Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy that causes multiple seizures a day. The only medication that has any effect on Ava's condition is a form of medicinal cannabis that Vera has, for years, fought tooth and nail to gain access to. For Ava tells the story of that campaign, pays tribute to those who helped the family achieve their goal and shows the lengths a parent will go to for their child's health and happiness.

Earlier this year, legislation allowing people access to medical cannabis on a limited basis over the next five years was signed into law. It allows compassionate access to cannabis for medical reasons in cases where conventional treatment has failed. However discussions are still ongoing to secure a supplier for the Irish market and as yet no such products have been supplied.