A man has been left “devastated” after being denied boarding for a Cardiff Airport flight following a dispute over his medicinal cannabis vape pen.
Jason Bryant, 51, from Caerau, Maesteg, was set to fly to Belfast to visit a friend and insisted he would only use the vape in “extreme circumstances”.
However, he claims he was asked to surrender it during the flight.
In 2016, Mr Bryant suffered a work-related accident that led to several long-term physical and mental health issues. He described the impact of the accident as “It’s like being in a car crash,” adding: “One day you’re able to do everything and you’re on top of the world and the next you can’t kick a ball with your boy; it’s hard to accept.”
To manage his conditions, Mr Bryant uses medicinal CBD and THC through an imported German vaporiser. He expressed his reliance on the device, saying: “I don’t leave the house without it,” and “It’s in my hand, it’s in my pocket, I draw a great deal of strength from just having it. It’s emotional support at the end of the day.”
While at Cardiff Airport on Wednesday, April 24, Mr Bryant found himself in the midst of a vaping controversy. Confined to a wheelchair, he was being escorted to his flight when he decided to use his vape in the waiting area, reports Wales Online.
He claims that shortly after, he was asked by the crew to surrender his electronic cigarette, with the promise it would be returned at the captain’s discretion. Aer Lingus later stated that Mr Bryant was “welcome” to fly, provided he abstained from vaping during the journey, though they did not confirm if he was indeed required to hand over his device.
The incident led to a significant delay of 45 minutes as Mr Bryant engaged in discussions with the airline staff through the airport personnel, an ordeal he described as a “circus show”.
In the end, he chose not to board the aircraft, a decision that left him “devastated.”
Defending his actions, Mr Bryant explained: “I told the gentleman standing there I was not going to use it on board,” clarifying that it would only be in “only in an extreme circumstance. My conditions are not life-threatening but in an extreme case they’re on par with having an epileptic fit… I am pretty much paralysed on the floor.
“I’m not talking about me jumping on the plane and just going ‘I’m going to get on with it’ [and vape].”
He elaborated on his health conditions, stating they could become as severe as an epileptic fit, rendering him virtually “only in an extreme circumstance. My conditions are not life-threatening but in an extreme case they’re on par with having an epileptic fit… I am pretty much paralysed on the floor. I’m not talking about me jumping on the plane and just going ‘I’m going to get on with it’ [and vape].”
He insisted that his intention was never to vape recklessly on the plane.
He added: “I’m not some stoner at the end of the day. I’ve worked all my life, I’ve always grafted, and I very rarely asked for handouts until I had my accident, that’s for sure.”
Mr Bryant always carries a copious amount of documentation, including his medical prescription and guidelines related to the Equality Act concerning medicinal cannabis. Despite the fact that medicinal cannabis has been available on prescription in Wales since 2018, he alleges he was denied bringing his device onboard as it is a means for disability medication.
His frustrations were summed up when he exclaimed: “If they would have been aware of medicinal cannabis it would never have blown up into a big thing in front of everyone.”
He added being burdened with countless hours over explaining via email while trying to get access to various venues and private caravan hires for a holiday.
Always looking to be compassionate wherever he goes, he added: “I always try and be kind and considerate wherever I go. I belong to a local men’s shed and I’m accepted there by all of the blokes but I still go and medicate outside because I’m considerate like that. If I’m on a plane and a medical emergency arrives, what do you expect me to do? “.
A statement was given by an Aer Lingus Regional spokesperson (affiliated with Emerald Airlines), expressing that “Smoking and vaping onboard Aer Lingus flights are strictly prohibited. The safety of our passengers is our utmost priority.”
Showing no flexibility they mentioned, “The use of such devices in the cabin could pose a risk to our crew and passengers. The passenger in question was welcome to board the aircraft on the condition that he refrained from vaping during the one-hour flight to Belfast. However, as the passenger refused to comply with this condition, he was subsequently denied boarding.”
In response to suggestions that Mr Bryant may have been discriminated against due to his disability, the airline firmly stated: “Any passenger who violates our explicit no-smoking and vaping policy will be refused boarding.”
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