"It's changed my life": Arbroath woman raises awareness of benefits of medical cannabis
47-year-old Lisa Robertson is urging fellow chronic pain sufferers to come forward and access the medication via a legal prescription
A fibromyalgia sufferer from Arbroath is raising awareness of medical cannabis, claiming it has changed her life.
47-year-old Lisa Robertson was diagnosed with the chronic illness 24 years ago and has been struggling to cope since.
On bad days, she would be taking up to 18 tablets a day just to manage the pain and be able to get out of bed.
Lisa said: “A few years back it was so bad. I was taking strong painkillers such as tramadol and dihydrocodeine, as well as antidepressants.
"These pills helped me get through the day, but I was never pain free and I was always lethargic. My life consisted of working, eating tea, having a bath and then going to bed. That was it.”
Lisa added: “When the pills wouldn’t work anymore the doctors wanted to put me on morphine. This was the tipping point - I refused to do this and said I wanted to get off all of the pills.”
Stigma and misinformation
Lisa decided to make lifestyle changes such as doing yoga and taking short walks, which gradually helped build her strength back up.
However, during the coronavirus lockdown, Lisa’s pain started creeping back again. Her fear of going back on so many strong painkillers led her to more research and she came across medical cannabis.
While medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018, only a small number of medicines are licensed on the NHS.
It means most patients access it through private prescriptions from clinics, and experts fear patients are missing out on the medicine due to stigma and misinformation.
Lisa is urging any chronic pain sufferers like her to come forward and access the medication via a legal prescription.
She said: “I’ve suffered with this for 24 years and I feel it is a miracle I’ve found this, it has honestly changed my life.
"Fibromyalgia steals people’s lives. Sometimes you wish you were dead, you can’t think how you’re going to live with the pain your whole life."
She added: "Now I’ve got my life back. I’ve been on holiday with my daughter, something I’ve never done.”
Lack of awareness
The Medical Cannabis Clinics, who supply Lisa’s prescription, claim not enough patients like her are aware that medical cannabis can help them.
CEO Jonathan Nadler said: “Some are aware of the benefits of medical cannabis but are dangerously accessing the drug through the illicit market.
"Meanwhile Some, despite the drug being legal on prescription for nearly four years, are completely unaware of its availability. This must change.
"Patients have the right to be able to access medical cannabis easily and legally to help improve their quality of life. Hopefully stories like Lisa’s will raise awareness of this vital issue.”