Tourist removed from bus because he 'smelt of cannabis' (2025)

James Murphy had travelled to Liverpool for the day

A tourist said he was removed from a bus after being told he smelt of cannabis after being prescribed it as medication.

James Murphy, 22, travelled from his home in Belfast to Liverpool earlier this month for a day trip. James is a registered medical cannabis patient with a legal private prescription to help with his ADHD and depression, the Echo reports.

He inhales the cannabis using a vape and says he was doing so before he got on the got on the 86A Arriva bus service heading into Liverpool city centre. He said he stopped vaping when he got on the bus, and sat on the quiet top deck next to a window.

However, James claimed the driver soon asked him to leave the bus and ignored him when he told them he had a prescription. Arriva North West have acknowledged that James is a registered medical cannabis patient but added that “smoking or vaping of any substance is strictly prohibited on our buses”.

Describing his interaction with the bus driver, James said: “I headed over to Liverpool for a wee day trip. You can do it in a day because it’s handy from Belfast. Then I was turfed off the bus on the way into town. The driver came upstairs to ask me to leave. I said it was prescribed.

“He said, 'I don’t understand medical cannabis and I don’t care, you stink mate.' I asked him to call the police, which he refused to do. I didn't have any battery on my phone. I didn't know what else to do.

“I got off in the end. I wasn't up for causing a scene but the top deck was empty. I wasn't disturbing anybody. The window was open next to me so the air was coming through. It's not like I was sitting there with a spliff.

“My phone was dead and I wasn't able to video the actual interaction. I was planning to buy a charger when I got into town. The next bus that didn't come when he said it would. I did have a Macbook in my bag which I used after I got off.

“People who use cannabis for medical purposes jump through all sorts of hoops so they’re covered legally. I use it as a vape. I’d been using cannabis at the bus stop before I got on, which you’re allowed to do - it is a medical device.”

James is unhappy with how Arriva has dealt with his complaint afterwards. He said: “I put the complaint in. They're not even trying to push back or say sorry. They just keep giving me blanket responses, saying we don’t tolerate smoking on our buses.

“But I told them it's a medical device and if it's used as prescribed, it's exempt. They just ignored that part. To make matters worse, I recently travelled on the same route and saw several people openly vaping nicotine devices on the bus with no action taken by the driver—highlighting the clear double standards and selective enforcement of their so-called policies."

James also says there needs to be more awareness around cannabis for medicinal purposes, particularly in Northern Ireland. The NHS states that "very few people" are likely to get an NHS prescription for medical cannabis.

Currently, it is only likely to be prescribed for children and adults with rare, severe forms of epilepsy, adults with vomiting or nausea caused by chemotherapy and people with muscle stiffness and spasms caused by multiple sclerosis (MS). It would only be considered when other treatments were not suitable or had not helped.

The health service adds that private doctors on the General Medical Council’s specialist register are legally able to prescribe cannabis-based products for medicinal use.

Specialist doctors, whether working for the NHS or not, will receive support and guidance on the evidence for the use of cannabis-based products for medical use, and the circumstances in which they may be prescribed. Prescribing by both private and NHS providers will be monitored by local controlled drugs accountable officers.

On his use of medical cannabis, James said: “I use it for ADHD and depression. The reason I’m annoyed is, say it was someone with MS (multiple sclerosis), they might be really struggling. The thought of someone like that being put in a similar situation boils my blood. I'm capable of looking after myself.

“Getting cannabis medically prescribed is one of the only avenues available in Northern Ireland, where there is no adult programme for ADHD. I’ve never been able to hold down a job. Unless you go down the private route, this is the only avenue of medication.

“Getting cannabis prescribed is the last resort - people use it when there is nowhere else to turn to. When you receive it, you can't roll it up either.

“With the medical cannabis I use, you’re not using something which sends you to sleep. If I hadn't have had this when I was in Liverpool, my ADHD would mean I would be speaking out of turn, saying offensive things without realising. Now I can be a bit more content with life. It has made a massive difference. Because it’s a vape, I can use it whenever I want.

“The doctor knows about it. I took it through airport security before I flew to Liverpool, so I don't understand why it's a problem on a bus over here. It's a UK based medicine from London that’s then shipped to Northern Ireland.”

When contacted about this issue, a spokesperson for Arriva North West said: “Our rules are clear: smoking or vaping of any substance is strictly prohibited on our buses. This policy is enforced to ensure the safety of all our customers and our staff.

“Our drivers are not in a position to assess or manage the legality of substances being used by passengers: their duty is to maintain a safe environment for everyone on board.

“While we acknowledge that this customer is a registered medical cannabis patient with a prescription, our policy must be applied consistently. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused, but we cannot make exceptions on a matter of safety.”