“Mothers for Cannabis Movement” launched on Mother’s Day in Portugal

Jurist Paula Mota and Lawyer Ana Margarida Ferreira launched yesterday the “Mothers for Cannabis Movement”, marking Mother's Day in Portugal. The Movement had been thought up for some years by Paula Mota, who has a 14-year-old daughter with refractory epilepsy, and by Margarida Leitão Ferreira, an activist and enthusiast of the theme that “still generates a lot of legal and social controversy”.

Several other mothers of children with pathologies eligible to be treated with cannabis joined this action “and not only that, as the universe of cannabis treatment is very diverse”, they emphasize.

We spoke with Paula Mota and Margarida Ferreira to better understand the objectives of this new Movement of Mothers for Cannabis.

Paula Mota, Jurist and co-founder of the Mothers for Cannabis Movement, has a 14-year-old daughter with Refractory Epilepsy – Photo: Laura Ramos | cannareporter

How was the idea of ​​creating this movement born and why? 
In fact, the idea of ​​this movement emerged from a need that, we would venture to say, is the most important for any human being: the right to a healthy life for our children, who always represent the most important part of our existence. However, in 2018, the movement was suspended, due to the announcement of an “invigorating” law, which would bring solutions for access to medical cannabis on the horizon. Almost four years have passed since the entry into force of law 33/2018, the certainty has been renewed that access to cannabis would be anything but equitable and that the law was a gateway for large investors in this new business, having started the “green gold” race in Portugal, and frustrated the expectations of those who care for the lives of children who depend on cannabis to live better. Also in this period, there was an entity founded in Portugal with the aim of continuing with the interest of cannabis patients as a cornerstone of its statute, the OPCM – Portuguese Observatory of Medicinal Cannabis, whose co-founding president is also a mother with a daughter who suffers from a rare disease and soon discovered that cannabis could be the answer to a more effective treatment. The need has been renewed over time, as we see that nothing has happened and that measures are not taken with the health of patients as a priority, whether children or adults. When we asked the reason for this movement, we started a long debate about the patients' right to health, but we also believe that this debate must be carried out with medical professionals, who help us to promote the well-being of patients and, in this way, contribute to the advancement of scientific studies about this plant and its compounds for human health.

What are the main objectives and actions planned for the future?
The goals must be the same as those of mothers who seek a solution to their children's illnesses and crises and find no answers in conventional medicine. At this moment, the main objective is to give voice and face to the existing realities in our country, contributing to the finding of joint solutions, either with state bodies or with entities capable of finding ways that allow access, in the shortest possible time. , to safe and viable treatments for patients. 

Who can join the Movement and how?
At the moment, the aim is to create a union and, therefore, bring together all those who have needs related to pathologies that can be treated with cannabis, but also all those who recognize that this is a cause that motivates them for the issue related to human rights. of all and especially the right to health enshrined as a fundamental right. You can join through our main channels – Facebook e Instagram – and together we will build a movement towards liberating cannabis and its benefits.

If you could say something to the Portuguese Government, what would it be?
These four years, after law 33/2018 came into force, have given us the certainty that there has not been much capacity to look at cannabis as an answer on the basis of what it represents, that is, in its simplicity as a plant. . This subject has always been discussed around prohibitionism and the dangers of cannabis and what surprises us the most is that we know of so many successful cases around the world, of mothers who treat their children by cultivating their own medicine. These are facts! Perhaps we have to bring these facts to the Government and then understand what position is taken on the matter presented in this human and factual way.