Due to the lack of legislation regulating this matter in Bosnia, the patients suffering from the most serious illnesses decide to purchase the cannabis oil on the black market and illegally take it over the border. To protect their identities, professional actors told their moving stories to the state parliamentarians, asking them to legalise the cannabis oil for medical purposes.

“I'm not afraid of being arrested. I am only a parent who wants to find the right path, to find a solution for its sick child,” actress Iva Simic said, telling the story of a mother whose daughter suffers from a severe form of epilepsy.

Quoting a 32-year old woman, actress Anja Drljevic said the fear of losing everything is much stronger than the fear of losing the beloved ones.

“You know, when you are diagnosed with such illness and you are 32-year-old, and when you're aware that you can lose everything at any moment, I would try everything, really everything… And the fear that you feel, of losing your children, of leaving your husband, of leaving this world, while you are so young, is much stronger than some fear of being arrested. Actually, it is much stronger and I won't give up,” she said.

To adopt the legislation regulating the cannabis oil use for medical purposes, Bosnia's state institutions need the consent of both of its semi-autonomous regions, the Federation (FBiH) and the Republika Srpska (RS) entities.

The adoption is being blocked by the RS Healthcare Ministry.

“This is being treated the same way and is in the same group with heroin and cocaine. What is necessary? To take the cannabis oil use for medical purposes from that group to the group which says: it is allowed under the strict control of doctor,” said MP Sasa Magazinovic, who initiated the discussion at the Parliament.

The patients hope the lawmakers will hear their stories and imagine how would it be in their shoes.

“The black market would be gone with legalisation and control. As an ill man, I won't go to a guy with a hoody but to the doctor's office to buy that oil. I have spent 10 to 15 thousand Euros on that oil so far,” said Irfan Ribic, an actor and founder of the ‘KANABiH’ association, which advocates for the change of the legislation in this area.