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Billy Caldwell heads home amid doubts over cannabis oil access Billy Caldwell heads home with doubts over cannabis oil access
(35 minutes later)
The 12-year-old boy with epilepsy whose condition sparked a national conversation on the UK’s drug policy is heading home amid uncertainty about access to his cannabis-based medication.The 12-year-old boy with epilepsy whose condition sparked a national conversation on the UK’s drug policy is heading home amid uncertainty about access to his cannabis-based medication.
After public outrage over the confiscation of Billy Caldwell’s medicine at Heathrow airport, the home secretary, Sajid Javid, granted a licence for cannabis oil to be administered to the boy at home. But Billy’s family, including his mother, Charlotte Caldwell, say there is no clarity on when the confiscated medicine will be released to him in Northern Ireland.After public outrage over the confiscation of Billy Caldwell’s medicine at Heathrow airport, the home secretary, Sajid Javid, granted a licence for cannabis oil to be administered to the boy at home. But Billy’s family, including his mother, Charlotte Caldwell, say there is no clarity on when the confiscated medicine will be released to him in Northern Ireland.
“While the Home Office in London and Charlotte’s MP, Órfhlaith Begley, have done an amazing job in getting us this far, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland have not confirmed that Billy’s medication will be available,” said a spokesman.“While the Home Office in London and Charlotte’s MP, Órfhlaith Begley, have done an amazing job in getting us this far, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland have not confirmed that Billy’s medication will be available,” said a spokesman.
The captain of flight being taken by the family will be given “secure custody” of the medicine by the Home Office and must give it to authorities in Belfast upon arrival. The Home Office will give the captain of the flight being taken by the family “secure custody” of the medicine and he must give it to authorities in Belfast upon arrival.
Last year, Billy became the first child to be prescribed medicinal cannabis oil on the NHS. He then reportedly went 300 days without a seizure. But his GP was later ordered by the Home Office not to renew the prescription as it contravened UK law. Last year, Billy became the first child to be prescribed medicinal cannabis oil on the NHS. He then reportedly went 300 days without a seizure. But the Home Office later ordered his GP not to renew the prescription as it contravened UK law.
This prompted his mother to take him to Canada to procure the medicine but it was seized by border guards upon their return to Britain. This prompted his mother to take him to Canada to procure the medicine, but it was seized by border guards upon their return to Britain.
The confiscation led to MPs criticising UK cannabis laws, which one said “can’t be right, sensible or humane”, and to call for urgent reform.The confiscation led to MPs criticising UK cannabis laws, which one said “can’t be right, sensible or humane”, and to call for urgent reform.
Billy’s health deteriorated and within days he was taken to hospital in a “life-threatening” condition after his seizures returned, forcing Javid to issue an emergency licence so that clinicians could treat the boy with cannabis oil.Billy’s health deteriorated and within days he was taken to hospital in a “life-threatening” condition after his seizures returned, forcing Javid to issue an emergency licence so that clinicians could treat the boy with cannabis oil.
His seizures subsided as a result and Javid then issued a similar license to Alfie Dingley, another child whose plight led to calls for the government to adopt a more compassionate approach. His seizures subsided as a result and Javid then issued a similar licence to Alfie Dingley, another child whose plight led to calls for the government to adopt a more compassionate approach.
That move led to pleas from families of children with similar conditions to be granted access to the medicinal cannabis. There are about 20,000 such children who do not respond to the usual medication prescribed by the NHS. That move led to pleas from families of other children with similar conditions to be granted access to the medicinal cannabis. There are about 20,000 such children who do not respond to the usual medication prescribed by the NHS.
Javid then announced that the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs would assess whether cannabis should be reclassified – a move which would make it significantly easier for research to be conducted on the drug.Javid then announced that the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs would assess whether cannabis should be reclassified – a move which would make it significantly easier for research to be conducted on the drug.
The home secretary said if the review identified significant medical and therapeutic benefits, then cannabis could be rescheduled for medicinal use.The home secretary said if the review identified significant medical and therapeutic benefits, then cannabis could be rescheduled for medicinal use.
Caldwell always made clear that she saw Billy’s case within the prism of a wider effort for children to gain access to useful medicines that the UK’s drug scheduling prevents. But she said questions remained over their own access, despite Javid’s blessing. Caldwell always made clear that she saw Billy’s case through the prism of a wider effort for children to gain access to useful medicines that the UK’s drug scheduling prevents. But she said questions remained over their own access, despite Javid’s blessing.
“While we have been advised that the captain of our flight will be given secure custody of the original larger quantity of Bill’s medicinal cannabis confiscated at Heathrow on 11 June, we are also advised that the meds will be handed directly to the Department of Health in Belfast,” a family spokesman said.“While we have been advised that the captain of our flight will be given secure custody of the original larger quantity of Bill’s medicinal cannabis confiscated at Heathrow on 11 June, we are also advised that the meds will be handed directly to the Department of Health in Belfast,” a family spokesman said.
The Department of Health said on Wednesday that it was “actively working for a timely resolution to this matter”.The Department of Health said on Wednesday that it was “actively working for a timely resolution to this matter”.
CannabisCannabis
Epilepsy
HealthHealth
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
DrugsDrugs
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