A Canadian man has been sentenced to life in prison in Dubai for possessing CBD oil, reports an online publication called Detained in Dubai.

In a post on November 27, 2024, the website alleges that a 64-year-old man, from Mississauga, Maurice Kevin O’Rourke, was detained in Dubai during a transfer through the country on his way from Canada to South Africa. 

O’Rourke, says the article, uses CBD to manage his symptoms from Addison’s disease, a rare chronic condition where the adrenal glands don’t produce enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone.

O’Rourke’s wife, Pamela, tells Detained in Dubai that her husband was arrested and taken to Al Awir prison in July. On October 31 he was sentenced to life in prison and issued a 500,000 AED fine (around $191,000 CAD). 

She says her husband, who goes by Kevin, was prescribed CBD by his doctor. 

“Our world fell apart,” she is quoted as saying in the publication. “Our daughter Maegan and I are shattered. We’re in disbelief. Kevin accepts that he shouldn’t have travelled while on medication but he doesn’t deserve to spend the rest of his life in prison. It was an innocent mistake.”

Her husband is not able to get the care he needs while in Dubai, she notes. 

“When he was arrested, local doctors had a hard time getting the medications, which impacted his immune system. He contracted an MRSA infection, had two emergency surgeries, spent forty days in hospital and has subsequently been fighting an infection. He has an open wound in prison. In three months he went from being strong and healthy to being in a wheelchair. It’s been incredibly distressing and life threatening for him.”

The National Post reports that, in response to questions about O’Rourke’s situation and what Canada is doing to secure his release and safe return, a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada said the agency is “aware of the detention of a Canadian citizen” and that “consular officials are in touch with local authorities and are providing consular assistance.”

“We hope the Canadian government is able to help Kevin as they did André Gauthier and hope the government of Dubai shows some mercy to his family,” Pamela O’Rourke is reported as telling Detained in Dubai.

“We have written to Peter Fonseca, MP, and hope he can work with Mélanie Joly and Justin Trudeau to help the O’Rourke family before it’s too late.”

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