If someone had told me in the 90s that in 2023 we would open Europe’s largest medicinal cannabis plant in Corinth, I would have replied: “You watch too much movies.”

If he had added that this plant would be opened by Adonis Georgiadis, I would have told him: “What are you drinking?”.

And yet today, Mr. Georgiadis and Mr. Karanikas, friend and partner of Alexis Tsipras, were at the TIKUN plant, side by side. The Minister of Development even apologized for once saying that “the first investment that SYRIZA brings in is reinforcement.” “We, the people, make mistakes and have many sins,” admitted Mr. Georgiadis, looking towards the astonished metropolitan, who had recently performed consecration.

Outside the program, Nikos Karanikas also performed and moved. “We have,” he said, “a misunderstood factory,” a “misunderstood minister,” and a “misunderstood adviser to a leftist leader.”

But why was I there too?

One reason is that in the 1990s I was one of the journalists who insisted that the state look at cannabis through the eyes of science, not prejudice.

And I put forth bold views in favor of personal cannabis cultivation. You also remember George Papandreou, an influential political figure of the time, who asked for “tassel pots on balconies” to be allowed.

Another reason that justifies my presence is that in parliament I fought, defended and voted for the 1st law on medicinal cannabis.

But the main reason I was in Corinth this morning was because Dimitris asked me to. Dimitris is a 23-year-old boy with severe mental retardation with autistic features. He was the main character in a show I did last year around the same time called Cannabis Our Shared Secret.

So, what his mother, Catherine Bussu, told me, and with her permission, I repeated it today.

Her son was dangerously violent towards others and towards himself. In these children, all the tension develops in the limbs. He broke the double pane with his palm. Many times both of his parents fell on top of him to immobilize him.

They tried to calm him down with antipsychotics, but to no avail.

Until Katerina read that abroad, some mothers give their children cannabis drops.

She met the president of the MAMAKA association, Mrs. Jacqueline Poitras, who encouraged her and said that Dimitris could probably be helped too.

So he procured medicinal marijuana from a northern country and, drop by drop, risk by risk, found a dosage that suited Dimitris. And suddenly he saw another child. A child without hypothermia who gradually straightened his back and began to communicate. No explosions or violence.

So what does Katerina want today?

He wants Dimitris to have a patient card and legally take his medicines. Medicinal cannabis. May she, her husband and their other son still be able to take Dimitris out for a walk.

There are many children like Dimitris. And for many diseases. I will not replace doctors.

Stylianos Gatzonis, Professor of Neurology, Anna Euphraimidou, Professor of Oncology, Dimitra Papadimitriou, Director of the Neurological Clinic, Chrysoula Karanastasi, Anesthesiologist – Head of the Pain Center, gave the Heroes several examples of people who have been helped by cannabis.

And I thank them again for their courage.

Therefore, it is urgent to release medical cannabis preparations. To help thousands of people who are looking for cannabis for relief, healing and pain reduction.

Do not force them to resort to illegal trade. To offer them dignity.

And take the next step immediately to decriminalize recreational cannabis use. Let’s close the houses in shops that sell cannabis today, pills tomorrow and heroin the day after tomorrow.

Yes, I am of the opinion that drugs have destroyed many lives, but the wrong drug policy has destroyed many more.

So good luck with your pioneering venture and see you in September when cannabis trucks leave Corinth for pharmacies in Greece and across Europe.