My name is Joakim Hedström, I’m a Swedish citizen and have been seeking professional medical help for over 26 years due to daily headaches, migraine and ADHD.

I’ve been prescribed dozens of painkillers, sedatives, antidepressants and sleeping pills for pain, depression, anxiety and sleeping problems. These have given little or no effect. Besides trying pharmaceuticals I’ve gone through extensive therapies, experimental ADHD treatments, professional massage, acupuncture, yoga, had a CAT scan and also had my blood analysed. These all ended with the same frustration – they simply did not work or added nothing of value.

My eureka moment came when I tried a friend’s joint almost ten years ago, for fun. I came to realise that cannabis provided me with incomparable relief and the ability to concentrate. It suppressed my depression, made me sleep well and heavily decreased the otherwise never-ending ADHD stress and anxiety.

However, I unfortunately came to realise that no Swedish doctor would let me try any medicinal cannabis, such as Bedrocan products – or even Sativex or Marinol. Thereafter began my long struggle to legally obtain medicinal cannabis.

The Swedish Medical Products Agency stated in a letter – addressed to myself – that according to Swedish law I was allowed to bring back pharmaceuticals containing cannabis, for my own medical use, with a dosage lasting no longer than 30 days.

So I packed my bags, went to Germany to visit a doctor – whom I’d previously been in contact with – and was prescribed Dronabinol (Marinol). This could and should have been the end of my history of pain, depression and sick leave, but it wasn’t to be. Upon re-entry to Sweden I was interrogated by the Swedish customs office, and then later also the Swedish police, and am now under suspicion for possession of a narcotic substance.

According to Swedish law I will be assigned a lawyer free of charge. Since it most likely will be considered a minor (non-problematic) offence my lawyer will only be paid for a few hours work. This isn’t by far enough since he/she will need to read up on Schengen and EU laws, due to the fact that this is not a regular case regarding possession of a narcotic substance. This is my medicine, prescribed by a doctor, that the government has now taken away from me.

Due to the current circumstances I am kindly asking for donations to be able to pay the lawyer to study the appropriate laws and help me with my case. Your donation will help me personally, but also hopefully others in the future, since this case is indeed creating legal history in Sweden.

If you have any further questions, please let me know. I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.

Thank you.

Kind regards, Joakim Hedström, Sweden – joakim.hedstrom@gmail.com

Many thanks to you who donated! Due to what has happened I’ve closed the option to donate for now.