A man suffering from debilitating MS has told how he breaks the law every day to rid himself of debilitating pain.

Clark French said that using medical marijuana has also increased his chances of living longer.

Mr French, 28, of Fiveways, Brighton, was restricted to a wheelchair after being diagnosed with MS in 2010 and suffered extreme pain before trying cannabis as a treatment.

He said he was prescribed medical marijuana while living in California and it had helped him walk unaided again.

Having returned to the UK and now living in Brighton he says he is forced to break the law to stay healthy.

He now no longer needs the NHS prescribed and takes between two and four grams of cannabis a day to keep the pain and muscle spasms at bay.

Mr French, who is unable to work because of his illness, said: “Before I started taking cannabis I needed a wheelchair and walking sticks but now I don’t really need them anymore.

“I’m not cured but it has made a huge difference to my symptoms and it’s improved my life expectancy.

“I know it’s not legal here, but when it’s the choice between following the law that you know is wrong or not being able to live your life, it’s not much of a choice really.

“The traditional treatments tramadol and morphine and a type of chemotherapy have a significant impact on your life expectancy. I was on ten different drugs, now I don’t need any other treatment. I take two to four grams a day and it’s changed my life.

“After being diagnosed with MS I started to look at the science behind medical marijuana.

“I travelled to California where I was given a doctor’s certification to get medical cannabis and I got a lot better.

“Before this I needed a wheelchair and a walking stick to get anywhere, now I don’t.”

Mr French is now planning on campaigning to get the laws on the use of medical marijuana relaxed.

Cannabis is not recognised as having any therapeutic value under the law in England and regardless of the purpose for which they are taking it still faces the threat of arrest or being charged with possession of an illegal drug.

However, there is a cannabis-based product – called Sativex – which has been authorised for the use in patients with spasticity due to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in exceptional circumstances.