Cole’s ‘Christmas wish’ for year’s supply of cannabis oil comes true

A Scottish mum says she has been ‘blown away’ by the support of donors who helped raise £18,000 to fund her son’s medication for a year. 

Thirty six business owners in Lanarkshire, Scotland have pledged £500 to help cover the costs of medical cannabis treatment for 10-year-old Cole Thomson. 

‘Cole’s Christmas Wish’ campaign, which was launched by his mum Lisa Quarrell in partnership with local business Equi’s Ice Cream, has raised £18,000 over the last five weeks.

This will cover the costs of Cole’s private medical cannabis prescription, which costs around £1,500 a month for the whole of 2023.

Cole has treatment-resistant focal epilepsy but has been seizure free since 2019 thanks to medical cannabis.

However, despite the efforts of Lisa and others, who continue to campaign for NHS access to the treatment, still only three prescriptions for whole-plant cannabis oil have been issued through the NHS since it was legalised in November 2018. 

“I’m absolutely blown away by the support that continues to pour in for Cole, it’s been a very long and difficult four years of fighting,” Lisa told Cannabis Health.

“I can’t explain how difficult it is to live with such a responsibility knowing if you don’t get it what could happen to my wee boy. Cole is very charming, he’s a character and everyone who meets him sees that, but he’s fighting a battle everyday with his health, education and social capabilities.

“Although financially we are safe for another year, the biggest fight is with the Scottish Government and NHS to have this life saving medicine available free for Cole and other children like him.”

Lisa Quarrell and her son Cole.

Over the last four years Lisa has raised thousands to fund Cole’s prescription, as well as supporting other families facing similar challenges in accessing medical cannabis in the UK.

She continued: “I have raised over £100,000 to keep my son alive and helped other children along the way, this should not be allowed to happen. My son deserves better and it’s a disgrace that I must beg my community to help keep him alive because the people in power have done absolutely nothing in the last four years. 

“We are still no further forward after failed promise after failed promise. The private market is thriving with new businesses popping up daily, yet the powers that be still have their eyes and hearts closed to the miracle plant that is cannabis.”