Lengthy Dubai prison sentence for sick Mississauga man found with medical cannabis product

A 64-year-old Mississauga man has been given a life prison sentence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for possessing cannabis products used to manage a health condition.

Maurice Kevin O’Rourke was travelling through the Middle Eastern country on his way to South Africa in July when he was stopped at the Dubai airport for having cannabis and CBD oil in his luggage.

He uses the products, both legal in Canada, to manage chronic pain caused by Addison’s disease, a rare condition affecting the adrenal glands that can lead to coma if left untreated.

The UAE considers cannabis a controlled narcotic and is prohibited without receiving prior approval to use.

Since his arrest, O’Rourke has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term and his family fears his health will deteriorate because of lack of medical care given to prisoners.

An organization called Detained In Dubai, which assists those jailed in that country, has been chronicling his case and is in touch with his wife. She said since his detention her husband has suffered infections, had two emergency surgeries, has an open wound and spent 40 days in the hospital.

“He went from being strong and healthy to being in a wheelchair. It’s been incredibly distressing and life-threatening for him,” said Pamela O’Rourke.

The family fears he won’t survive the ordeal much longer.

An appeal hearing is scheduled late in December and his family hopes the court will be reasonable and allow O’Rourke to return home. The family is also reaching out to the Canadian government in the hope that it can intervene diplomatically to bring about his release.