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Cannabis oil row prompts legalisation call Billy Caldwell: 'Let me treat epileptic son at home', says mum
(about 4 hours later)
MPs are calling for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis after the home secretary allowed a severely epileptic boy to receive the treatment. The mother of a severely epileptic boy who had his cannabis oil medication confiscated wants to meet the home secretary to discuss reforming the law.
MP Crispin Blunt, co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on drug policy reform, said the existing law was "frankly absurd". Charlotte Caldwell's son Billy, 12, uses the oil as his anti-seizure medication and she wants to be able to treat him with it at home.
The Home Office initially banned Billy Caldwell, 12, from taking cannabis oil but then reversed its decision. The Home Office has granted a limited licence for the drug to be administered to the child in hospital for 20 days.
Billy's mother Charlotte has called for the oil to be freely available. Billy is being treated at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.
According to Ms Caldwell, Billy is responding to the medication, which is used as an anti-epileptic. Ms Caldwell says her son's seizures dramatically reduce when he takes the oil, which contains a substance called Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that is illegal in the UK.
But speaking to BBC Breakfast she said: "I will not stand by and let any other family in our country endure this experience. It's horrific and cruel." On Monday Heathrow airport officials confiscated Billy's supply - which Ms Caldwell had tried to bring in from Canada - and he was admitted to hospital after his seizures "intensified".
Billy was given the oil at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital under a special 20-day licence. He is banned from taking the remedy at home. Home Secretary Sajid Javid later approved the use of cannabis oil after doctors made clear it was a medical emergency. The situation is under review.
Ms Caldwell is calling for Billy to be given the remainder of his medication, and said she wants to meet Home Secretary Sajid Javid to discuss the issue on Monday. Ms Caldwell, from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, wants to meet Mr Javid to discuss the matter and said: "I will not stand by and let any other family in our country endure this experience. It's horrific and cruel."
She says her son's seizures dramatically reduce when he takes the oil, which contains a substance called Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and is illegal in the UK. Crispin Blunt MP, co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on drug policy reform, said the existing law was "frankly absurd".
Last Monday officials at Heathrow airport confiscated Billy's supply which Ms Caldwell had tried to bring in from Canada and he was admitted to hospital after his seizures "intensified".
Mr Javid later approved the use of cannabis oil after doctors made clear it was a medical emergency. The situation is under review.
Dr Amir Englund, of the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, said an exemption should be made in Billy's case "so that he does not come to further harm".Dr Amir Englund, of the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, said an exemption should be made in Billy's case "so that he does not come to further harm".
But UCL's Dr Michael Bloomfield said the use of medical marijuana is "far from straightforward". He said in some jurisdictions the drug's use for medical conditions is "a potential way of decriminalising cannabis through the back door".But UCL's Dr Michael Bloomfield said the use of medical marijuana is "far from straightforward". He said in some jurisdictions the drug's use for medical conditions is "a potential way of decriminalising cannabis through the back door".
The Home Office's initial decision, and then its reversal, prompted calls for drug law reform from MPs on all sides.The Home Office's initial decision, and then its reversal, prompted calls for drug law reform from MPs on all sides.
Mr Blunt, a Conservative, said the existing law was based on an "outdated" claim that cannabis had no medicinal value.Mr Blunt, a Conservative, said the existing law was based on an "outdated" claim that cannabis had no medicinal value.
"We need to get serious now about getting the benefits of these medicines, and move to change the frankly absurd position we are in," he said."We need to get serious now about getting the benefits of these medicines, and move to change the frankly absurd position we are in," he said.
Former Conservative Health Minister Dan Poulter said the current situation was "ridiculous" and he said he would push for an urgent change in the law. Ex-Tory health minister Dan Poulter said the current situation was "ridiculous" and pledged to push for a change in the law.
He said: "I genuinely don't understand why we see... medicinal cannabis through the prism of the 1971 Misuse of Drugs legislation, when actually this is a medical issue, it's not a prohibition of drugs issue, and that's what's got to change. He said: "I genuinely don't understand why we see... medicinal cannabis through the prism of the 1971 Misuse of Drugs legislation, when actually this is a medical issue, it's not a prohibition of drugs issue, and that's what's got to change."
In 2017, Billy was prescribed the medication on the NHS. But in May this year, his GP was told he could no longer prescribe it. In 2017, Billy was prescribed the medication on the NHS but last month his GP was told he could no longer prescribe it.
At the time the Department of Health in Northern Ireland said cannabis had not yet been licensed in the UK as a medicine.At the time the Department of Health in Northern Ireland said cannabis had not yet been licensed in the UK as a medicine.
Does cannabis have medicinal benefits?Does cannabis have medicinal benefits?
CBD and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are two types of cannabinoids found naturally in the resin of the marijuana plant.CBD and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are two types of cannabinoids found naturally in the resin of the marijuana plant.
A cannabis-based drug called Sativex has been licensed in the UK to treat MS. It contains THC and CBD.A cannabis-based drug called Sativex has been licensed in the UK to treat MS. It contains THC and CBD.
Doctors could, in theory, prescribe it for other things outside of this licence, but at their own risk.Doctors could, in theory, prescribe it for other things outside of this licence, but at their own risk.
MS patients prescribed Sativex, who resupply it to other people, also face prosecution.MS patients prescribed Sativex, who resupply it to other people, also face prosecution.
Another licensed treatment is Nabilone. It contains an artificial version of THC and can be given to cancer patients to help relieve nausea during chemotherapy.Another licensed treatment is Nabilone. It contains an artificial version of THC and can be given to cancer patients to help relieve nausea during chemotherapy.
Source: NHS ChoicesSource: NHS Choices