**Pioneering Cannabis Campaigner Hannah Deacon Dies Aged 45 After “Brutal” Illness**
Hannah Deacon, the leading campaigner behind the legalisation of medical cannabis in the UK, has died at the age of 45 following a sudden and aggressive illness, her family and associates have confirmed this week. Deacon, who gained national attention for her tireless efforts to improve her son’s health and to transform drug law in Britain, was widely recognised for her commitment to helping families obtain access to life-changing medication.
Deacon’s campaigning journey began in deeply personal circumstances. Her son, Alfie Dingley, was diagnosed with a rare and devastating form of epilepsy which at its worst saw him experience hundreds of seizures each week. Desperate to alleviate his suffering, Deacon travelled to the Netherlands, where Alfie was able to access a cannabis-derived medication not available in the UK at the time. The marked improvement in Alfie’s health galvanised her resolve to bring about legal change back home.
In 2018, after a high-profile campaign that included petitions, media appearances, and direct appeals to ministers, Deacon succeeded in persuading the government to legalise medical cannabis in the UK. The legal amendments permitted NHS clinicians to prescribe cannabis-based products for certain medical conditions—a significant departure from previous policy, and a move that ultimately helped thousands across the country.
Staff and supporters from the MedCan Family Foundation, which Deacon helped establish in the wake of her campaign’s success, paid tribute to her this week. The foundation described her as “remarkable, determined, tenacious and fiercely compassionate,” citing the immense impact she had not only on Alfie but on the wider community of families in need of similar treatments. “Her fight to find treatment for Alfie’s rare and severe epilepsy led to a breakthrough that changed his life, and ultimately changed the law,” they said in a statement.
Beyond celebrating her victory in the legal arena, Deacon continued to provide support and advocacy for families facing similar struggles. She was known for offering both practical support and emotional solidarity, remaining involved in policy discussions, educational events and public forums that championed better access to medical cannabis. In 2022, she revealed that Alfie, then aged 10, had been free from seizures for two years as a direct result of the medication she worked so hard to secure.
Tragically, in March 2025, Deacon was diagnosed with cancer. This forced her to step down from her leadership roles, including her position on the board of the MedCan Family Foundation. Despite her illness, she remained a passionate advocate for those in need until the very end.
The foundation’s moving statement underscored how the loss has resonated with her close family—including her partner Drew, her children Alfie and Annie, as well as friends and colleagues. “This devastating loss to Hannah’s beloved partner Drew and children is impossible to put into words,” the statement read. “She made us laugh, made us think, and made us feel stronger just by being there.”
Deacon’s legacy is perhaps best encapsulated by her dual devotion—to public advocacy, and to her family. Friends and supporters remarked this week that, for all her public achievements, it was her role as a mother that she prized above all. She had become a symbol of hope and resilience for countless families across the UK.
As the news spread, tributes poured in from campaigners, medical professionals and ordinary citizens whose lives had been touched by Deacon’s work. Her story, many noted, had ignited a new discussion around compassion, science and the need for reform in outdated healthcare systems.
Journalists and media figures noted that Deacon’s impact would not easily be forgotten, and expressed hope that the movement she inspired would continue. While her life was cut tragically short, her pioneering efforts have ensured lasting change for people living with chronic illness throughout the UK. Her loved ones and those she helped now face the task of carrying her work forward—so that her legacy of compassion and determination may endure.