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Medical cannabis users protected by council

Alec Doyle
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Local Democracy Reporting Service Flintshire councillor David Coggins Cogan has dark hair, a moustache and short stubble and is wearing a white shirt and tie, and a gilet. He is standing with David Case who has grey hair and a moustache and is wearing a checked brown and blue shirt. They are standing in front of the council building and smiling at the cameraLocal Democracy Reporting Service
Flintshire councillor David Coggins Cogan drafted the motion with support from Halkyn resident and medical cannabis user David Case

Medicinal cannabis users will be protected by Flintshire council from discrimination - the first Welsh authority to make the move.

Members overwhelmingly supported a notice of motion from councillor David Coggins Cogan to protect council tenants and staff who are legally prescribed cannabis.

The move will empower officials to properly deal with illegal cannabis use by requiring people to show their prescription if they claim an exemption, according to the motion.

Cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) are inhaled as vapour or taken as drops. Treatments can be legally prescribed by specialist doctors in a limited number of circumstances where other medicines have failed.

The notice of motion is in line with the Equality Act and ensures patients are allowed to take their prescribed medication indoors without having to use smoking areas.

It commits the council to work with partners to improve awareness and training and ensure organisations including North Wales Police understand and acknowledge the protections in place.

Coggins Cogan said: "This motions educates ourselves, our communities and our partner organisations about the stigma around a legally-prescribed medication."