It was a sunny summer's day at Slane Castle, Co Meath, the annual rock gig, with Freddie Mercury and Queen belting out their greatest hits. Tens of thousands of fans were in front of the stage, whereas I had the pleasure of a personal invitation from Henry Lord Mountcharles and the late promoter Jim Aiken and was with dozens of A-listers in the private grounds of the castle with access to indoors, where we partook of Champagne and strawberries and cream.

MPs have recommended medicinal marijuana for the relief of chronic pain and anxiety, but the law is against it.

Psychiatrist Dr Owen Bowden-Jones explains why starting discussions about drugs early can be crucial when it comes to educating your teens on the dangers of legal and illegal highs.

DISCOVERING your child is taking drugs is every parent's nightmare, and most would go to great lengths to ensure illegal substances – or even legal highs – are never part of their child's world.

But ongoing conversations about drugs with children, starting well before the age they're likely to first be offered them, may be all it takes to prevent experimentation.

THORNY ISSUE

Psychiatrist and addiction expert Dr Owen Bowden-Jones, who's written a book called The Drug Conversation to help parents navigate the thorny issue, explains:

Cannabis should be made legal for medicinal purposes, say a cross-party group of U.K. MPs.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform says that clear evidence from a seven-month study shows the drug can play a therapeutic role for individuals with certain conditions—including chronic pain and anxiety.

Debilitating diseases and chronic conditions severely impair the quality of life of patients; for those suffering from Crohn’s disease, or multiple sclerosis, or arthritis, or the aftereffects of chemotherapy, the ability to find relief from pain can make a real difference.

Fortunately, advances in medical technology are finding answers. An increasing number of people suffering from these conditions are finding that medical cannabis can make a difference that their prescription medicines simply cannot.

Hopeful news, if you're one of the estimated 1 million medicinal cannabis users in the UK: a group of MPs and peers is campaigning for medicinal weed to be made legal in the UK, allowing people who suffer from chronic pain and symptoms such as anxiety to grow a small amount of weed and have access to doctor-prescribed bud without the risk of being charged for possession.

If the campaign is successful, it would put the UK among 11 European countries and 24 US states where cannabis has been decriminalised for prescribed consumption.

Anxiety affects a lot of us. Recent studies put the stats at 1 in 10 likely to acquire the mental health condition at some stage in our lives. Many suffer in silence and some turn to prescription medications, which can be extremely helpful for some people, but not everyone gets on with them. There's call for alternative options for those struggling. But what many people don't realise is that a compound from marijuana could help some people manage their condition without powerful medication.

One of Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet ministers has approved a report calling for cannabis to be legalised for medical use.

Paul Flynn, the shadow leader of the House of Commons, is one of a cross-party group of MPs and peers who have recommended the change following a major inquiry.

It comes after a recent survey found more than half of MPs want to see the legalisation of medical marijuana.

Faye spends about £250 a month making her own capsules and creams.

Cannabis should be legalised for medical use, a cross-party group of MPs has said, but there are thousands of people already using the Class B drug for this purpose.

"I am seriously considering emigrating to Australia, Jamaica or the US," says Faye Jones.

The 32-year-old PA from Wokingham jumps every time there's a knock at the door and tiptoes around neighbours who might call the police.

Her crime? Five years ago, Faye was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and after suffering from the side effects of prescribed drugs, she now uses cannabis to ease her pain, nausea and inflammation. 

During almost five years on the beat, patrolling some of the roughest parts of London, Mike Abbott arrested dozens of people for drug offences. 

As a young recruit he picked up people carrying cannabis on the street in areas such as Brixton, and later participated in undercover operations against major suppliers.

‘The stench of hash was becoming more prevalent,’ he says. ‘My job was to uphold the law and cannabis, like other drugs, was illegal.’

Ex-Met Police officer Mike Abbott runs one of the most successful medical marijuana firms in the United States, Columbia Care