A severely epileptic boy is “99% seizure-free” after undergoing pioneering cannabisoil treatment in America.

Yvonne Cahalane is calling for the legalisation of medicinal marijuana in Ireland after seeing the amazing transformation in her son.

She moved to Colorado with two-year-old son Tristan, who was born with an incurable form of epilepsy, from their home in Dunmanway, Co Cork , last December.

The toddler, who was suffering 20 seizures a day, has drastically improved and Yvonne is convinced her desperate decision to leave Ireland was the right one.

There is a sense of fear we feel when we hear people using the word ‘Addict’.

As children we are taught to mind our own behaviour and stay away from those that don’t. If we are caught doing something ‘naughty’ at school, we are scolded or punished until we learn not to do it. As we grow older we worry less about our own bad behaviour, however what remains the same is a firmly rooted sense that there is right and wrong behaviour and those who act out should still be met with a consequence as we did in our childhoods.

There is a sympathy we feel when we hear people using the word ‘illness’.

Marijuana legalization has been a political issue in the United States for some time, and while it remains illegal in most states, others have softened their stance in recent years. Colorado and Washington both passed initiatives by popular vote to decriminalize and legalize cannabis in 2012. In 2014, Oregon, Alaska and Washington, D.C., followed suit. Many states including Massachusetts, California, Missouri, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada and Ohio have flirted with legalization for a few election cycles, with buzz growing.

The United States isn't the only country where people use marijuana legally or illicitly. In fact, it isn’t even the country with the highest reported marijuana use.

THERE HAS BEEN much talk in recent times about cannabis, namely plans to decriminalise or legalise it in certain jurisdictions.

A number of states in the US have decriminalised or legalised the drug and more are considering it.

In Colorado, for example, adults aged 21 or older can legally possess one ounce (28 grammes) of marijuana. Last year the state sold $996 million worth (about €876 million) of recreational and medical cannabis.

AN Omagh native is set to become the poster boy for a new campaign to legalise medicinal marijuana.

Kieran McCrory who was struck down with a brain tumour in 2011 and who is currently recovering from brain surgery, founded Omagh Medicinal Cannabis Support Group last year.

However, in the coming months Kieran will work alongside the on-line magazine and lobbyist VolteFace in a new drive to have Westminster re-think its laws on what Kieran says is a wholly natural remedy for cancer. The campaign is also reportedly set to feature former Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg and will be supported by political party CISTA (Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol).

If a 29-year-old man, alleged to part of a gang bringing large amounts of cannabis into the country, was released on bail police believed they may never see him again, Craigavon Magistrates court heard last Friday.

A detective said this during a bail application on behalf of Cao Jiahuan, Clonavon Avenue, Portadown.

The defendant faces charges of illegal entry to the United Kingdom and aiding and abetting the illegal importation of cannabis on October 12 last year.

Jiahuan appeared in court by way of videolink from Maghaberry prison.

Opposing bail the detective said the case involved the interception of £300,000 worth of herbal cannabis which was on its way from Spain to Portadown.

The Irish minister responsible for drugs strategy is calling for the decriminalisation of possession of small quantities of drugs, including class A substances like heroin.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has told the BBC that the "Just Say No" message, taught in schools, is ineffective and "a lie".

The Irish Labour Party politician has called for a more sympathetic approach to dealing with addicts.

He emphasised that what he was proposing is decriminalisation

Image captionMr Ó Ríordáin said drug users should not be criminalised for their sickness

This means that people would, in practice, not face prosecution, but it does not mean the legalisation of drugs.

The regional arm of a fledgling political party campaigning for the decriminalisation of cannabis has been fined for breaches of electoral regulations.

CISTA – Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol – was fined £3250 by the Electoral Commission for failing to provide any financial returns.

The party ran four candidates in Northern Ireland in May’s general election.

According to the electoral watchdog, CISTA failed to submit quarterly donations and loans reports, before and after the election, along with campaign expenditure returns.

Bob Posner of the Electoral Commission said: "Political parties have a legal responsibility to submit their financial returns.

The regional arm of a fledgling political party campaigning for the decriminalisation of cannabis has been fined for breaches of electoral regulations.

CISTA – Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol – was fined £3250 by the Electoral Commission for failing to provide any financial returns.

The party ran four candidates in Northern Ireland in May’s general election.

According to the electoral watchdog, CISTA failed to submit quarterly donations and loans reports, before and after the election, along with campaign expenditure returns.

Bob Posner of the Electoral Commission said: "Political parties have a legal responsibility to submit their financial returns.

In most homes with young children you will find evidence of their little lives everywhere. Yvonne Cahalane’s house in Dunmanway county Cork is no exception.

Tiny clothes are drying near a radiator, a shiny yellow plastic car lies abandoned on the couch and the Minions DVD is playing in the background.

But between the scattered toys in Yvonne's home there are other items. A large hold-alls containing piles of boxes of prescription medications, complicated-looking first aid kits and an oxygen tank.

For Yvonne, her husband John and their two sons; Oscar who is three, and Tristan (pictured) who turns two in December, this medical paraphernalia are a part of their everyday life.