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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/26/billy-can-live-a-normal-life-families-react-to-medicinal-cannabis-move
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| 'Billy can live a normal life': families react to medicinal cannabis move | 'Billy can live a normal life': families react to medicinal cannabis move |
| (4 months later) | |
| Charlotte Caldwell, whose son Billy became the symbol of the campaign to make cannabis-based medicinal products available on prescription, has welcomed Sajid Javid’s climbdown on the issue because Billy will now be able to live “a normal life”. | Charlotte Caldwell, whose son Billy became the symbol of the campaign to make cannabis-based medicinal products available on prescription, has welcomed Sajid Javid’s climbdown on the issue because Billy will now be able to live “a normal life”. |
| But while families that have been campaigning for children living with epilepsy to get access to medicinal cannabis have welcomed the news, they warned that there is still work to be done. | But while families that have been campaigning for children living with epilepsy to get access to medicinal cannabis have welcomed the news, they warned that there is still work to be done. |
| Javid, the home secretary, declared on Thursday that cannabis will be downgraded to a schedule 2 drug, meaning that the government has recognised it has therapeutic benefits. | Javid, the home secretary, declared on Thursday that cannabis will be downgraded to a schedule 2 drug, meaning that the government has recognised it has therapeutic benefits. |
| The news was greeted warmly by families with epileptic children who also struck a note of caution and questioned what products would be available, and when. | The news was greeted warmly by families with epileptic children who also struck a note of caution and questioned what products would be available, and when. |
| “I now hope all the families with children with epilepsy can now get access to medicinal cannabis without going through the horrendous hurdles we went through,” said Hannah Deacon, who has campaigned since January 2017 to get her child “access to the medicine he needs”. | “I now hope all the families with children with epilepsy can now get access to medicinal cannabis without going through the horrendous hurdles we went through,” said Hannah Deacon, who has campaigned since January 2017 to get her child “access to the medicine he needs”. |
| “There’s still work to be done in regards to the medicines available. I hope the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will work quickly to ensure doctors will have the knowledge to prescribe the right medicines as soon as possible.” | “There’s still work to be done in regards to the medicines available. I hope the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will work quickly to ensure doctors will have the knowledge to prescribe the right medicines as soon as possible.” |
| Caldwell, whose son was prescribed cannabis oil on the NHS before the Home Office confiscated his medicine, said she was struck by the sudden speed of change on the issue following her campaign. | Caldwell, whose son was prescribed cannabis oil on the NHS before the Home Office confiscated his medicine, said she was struck by the sudden speed of change on the issue following her campaign. |
| “We made more progress in six weeks than any UK government made in six decades,” she said. | “We made more progress in six weeks than any UK government made in six decades,” she said. |
| “But, crucially, my little boy Billy can now live a normal life with his mummy because of the simple ability to now administer a couple of drops a day of a long-maligned but entirely effective natural medication.” | “But, crucially, my little boy Billy can now live a normal life with his mummy because of the simple ability to now administer a couple of drops a day of a long-maligned but entirely effective natural medication.” |
| She welcomed Thursday’s announcement, which comes both on Billy’s 13th birthday and the day she received a licence to possess cannabis, but added that “it is now vital the medical world engages and commits to education and understanding. | She welcomed Thursday’s announcement, which comes both on Billy’s 13th birthday and the day she received a licence to possess cannabis, but added that “it is now vital the medical world engages and commits to education and understanding. |
| “I hope with this announcement responsibility for medical cannabis transfers from the Home Office to the department of health as advocated by Families 4 Access,” she said. | “I hope with this announcement responsibility for medical cannabis transfers from the Home Office to the department of health as advocated by Families 4 Access,” she said. |
| About a third of the 60,000 children living with epilepsy in the UK do not respond to the traditional anti-epileptic drugs prescribed on the NHS which often precipitate lifechanging side effects. | About a third of the 60,000 children living with epilepsy in the UK do not respond to the traditional anti-epileptic drugs prescribed on the NHS which often precipitate lifechanging side effects. |
| Many children have gone abroad and seen their condition drastically improve after being treated with cannabis-derived medicines. | Many children have gone abroad and seen their condition drastically improve after being treated with cannabis-derived medicines. |
| Emerging clinical research, bolstered by a wealth of anecdotal evidence, has also suggested that cannabis-based products could ameliorate the symptoms of diseases such as cancer, Crohn’s and multiple sclerosis. | Emerging clinical research, bolstered by a wealth of anecdotal evidence, has also suggested that cannabis-based products could ameliorate the symptoms of diseases such as cancer, Crohn’s and multiple sclerosis. |
| The government’s announcement, therefore, could lead to a fundamental shift in the medicines people with these conditions are treated with. | The government’s announcement, therefore, could lead to a fundamental shift in the medicines people with these conditions are treated with. |
| “My son takes a very strong medication at the moment, different types as well, and it’s like a small meal of drugs which is too much for a child,” said Mahboob Haniffa, who has been working with Families 4 Access, who had backed Caldwell’s campaign, on behalf of his son Ayub. | “My son takes a very strong medication at the moment, different types as well, and it’s like a small meal of drugs which is too much for a child,” said Mahboob Haniffa, who has been working with Families 4 Access, who had backed Caldwell’s campaign, on behalf of his son Ayub. |
| “It’s a big relief for us that cannabis medicine is going to be allowed to be prescribed in the autumn, but I am worried that the doctors still need appropriate training.” | “It’s a big relief for us that cannabis medicine is going to be allowed to be prescribed in the autumn, but I am worried that the doctors still need appropriate training.” |
| Others said that for them, the news cannot come soon enough. | Others said that for them, the news cannot come soon enough. |
| “Whilst we’d like to be cautiously optimistic we have so many questions,” said Ilmarie Braun, mother of Eddie, who appeared on Newsnight in June to call for cannabis oil to be legalised to treat children with epilepsy. | “Whilst we’d like to be cautiously optimistic we have so many questions,” said Ilmarie Braun, mother of Eddie, who appeared on Newsnight in June to call for cannabis oil to be legalised to treat children with epilepsy. |
| “Obviously this is great news because it will allow more research to be undertaken, but for parents who are actually living through this with our children it can’t come soon enough. | “Obviously this is great news because it will allow more research to be undertaken, but for parents who are actually living through this with our children it can’t come soon enough. |
| “I sound cynical but there have been so many false dawns, and we need something tangible rather than mere concepts.” | “I sound cynical but there have been so many false dawns, and we need something tangible rather than mere concepts.” |
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