Gold Coast dad James Dime forced into criminal underworld to obtain medicinal cannabis

A Gold Coast dad says he has been forced into the criminal underworld in order to live free of pain — by importing cannabis oil illegally just to get out of bed.

A GOLD Coast dad says he has been forced into the criminal underworld in order to live free of pain — by importing cannabis oil illegally just to get out of bed.

A life long Crohn's sufferer, James Dime* said the ongoing pain and limitations of the chronic illness had even lead him to contemplate suicide.

He claims it is the single tablet of the illegally obtained substance he take daily that allows him to keep going.

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### MATT NOT TO BE IDENTIFIED ###Matt is an average bloke in every way. A loving father and husband, a full time worker, he even goes to church regularly. However to manage his chronic illness, chron's, he has begun to illegally take medicinal cannabis. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Everyday I wake up wondering if I am going to be the guy on TV led away in handcuffs, just because I wanted a little bit of humanity,” Mr Dime said.

“I have literally tried every medication under the sun.

“I was at the point where if someone said try white dog poo, I would be buying the neighbour’s dog eating it by the shovel full.”

Reduced to tears, the frustration of the regular church goer is clear.

“I don’t touch drugs but this was my last option,” Mr Dime said.

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Medicinal cannabis is legal for some conditions. Picture: (AAP Image/Renae Droop)

“It controls your life, sometimes you stay inside, you are in constant pain, I have had to go to the bathroom 30 times a day — I am in agony.

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“In your late thirties it is pretty sad to plan your social life around your health, sometimes I can’t even be a father,” he said.

While medicinal cannabis has been legalised in Queensland those seeking the medication need to overcome a number of hurdles.

A doctor must be able to provide scientific evidence that the product has been helpful for that specific condition.

Mr Dime has been told that there have been no Australian trials proving the effects on those suffering his disease, and therefore will not be prescribed it. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Dime has been told that there have been no Australian trials proving the effects on those suffering his disease, and therefore will not be prescribed it.

Instead the father of three took it upon himself to obtain the drug, after researching studies in Canada and Israel.

Now taking a single capsule a day, which he obtains through others growing their own supply — he says he has his “life back.”

“There are also certain dispensaries where you can order it from overseas, that can take up to six weeks,” he said.

“Of course it would be far easier if I could just go to the doctor.”

A marijuana plant in a greenhouse for medicinal use.

He said he isn’t alone, and had seen people in similar circumstances while seeking the drug.

“You are visiting people’s homes, it is like a waiting room, I have seen couples in their seventies there — it isn’t just me.”

“If people like my nan and pop are breaking the law for their health something is clearly wrong.”

Aware of the legal implications Mr Dime wants to see clinical trials in place to give others like him an option.

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“I don’t want to keep living in the dark like this,” he said.

“It is a massive concern I don’t want to lose my job, I don’t want to be unemployed, I don’t want people to think I’m a drug addict.

“If I didn't have Crohn's disease I wouldn't be taking these products.”

A spokesman from Crohn's & Colitis Australia said they were aware of other sufferers claiming to use the drug but there had been no clinical trials.

“We do see stories on social media but that is without clinical evidence at this stage,” the spokesman said.

“There are quite a good range of medications out there at the moment,” he said.

“Crohn's is a very serious disease and can take a huge toll on people mentally and physically.”

*Named changed for legal reasons.