For MS sufferer Noel McCullagh one of the side effects of taking the medicinal cannabis product, Bedrocan, is banishment from his native Ireland.
The EU Ombudsman has appealed to the Irish authorities to allow the 35-year-old Galway man, who lives in the Netherlands, to come home to visit his family, and bring his medication with him.
The Ombudsman Nikiforos Diamandouros has also asked the Irish Ombudsman and the Irish Human Rights Commission to take up the case of Mr McCullagh with the authorities.
A number of countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Germany, have legalised the use of cannabis compound prescribed by doctors and used for ailments such as multiple sclerosis.
However, Ireland has not and Mr McCullagh has said he is regularly warned against coming into the country with his supply of Bedrocan, which is manufactured in the Netherlands and exported.
Source: Ann Cahill, Irish Examiner, 05/04/2011