A brave mum who helped to get medical cannabis use legalised in the UK has died after a “short and brutal illness”.
Hannah Deacon was instrumental in a law change in 2018 that allowed medical cannabis to be prescribed to NHS patients.
Her son Alfie has a rare form of epilepsy which meant he could have hundreds of seizures a week.
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Ms Deacon, 45, petitioned the government in March 2018 after she found his condition improved when he was given a cannabis-based medication in the Netherlands where it was legal.
In 2022, Ms Deacon, from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, said Alfie, then 10, had been free of seizures for two years since using medical cannabis.
Following the law change, Hannah continued to support families across the country get access to the drug for medical use.
But in March it was revealed that Hannah had cancer and would step back from her role as chair and trustee of the MedCan Family Foundation, which she helped set up to help families access medical cannabis.
The foundation this week confirmed Hannah’s death, as reported by Need To Know.
A statement said: “We are heartbroken to share that Hannah Deacon died on Tuesday 6 May, surrounded by those who loved her, after a short and brutal illness.
“This devastating loss to Hannah’s beloved partner Drew and children Alfie and Annie is impossible to put into words.
“Hannah was remarkable, determined, tenacious and fiercely compassionate.
“Her fight to find treatment for her son Alfie’s rare and severe epilepsy led to a breakthrough that changed his life and ultimately changed the law.
“She went on to transform the lives of thousands of patients and families, never stopping in her work to push for better access, better care, and a better understanding of medical cannabis.
“More than anything Hannah’s most proud and important role was being a mum.
“Hannah was our brave, beautiful partner, daughter, sister, and friend.
“She made us laugh, made us think, and made us feel stronger just by being there.
“All of us are better for knowing her.
“We only wish we could have had more time.”
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