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MPs Are Calling For Legalisation Of Cannabis Oil For Medicinal Use

MPs Are Calling For Legalisation Of Cannabis Oil For Medicinal Use

Several MPs have backed a change in legislation following the case of Billy Caldwell

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

MPs are calling for a change in the law to allow cannabis oil to be used medicinally, following the recent case of a severely epileptic boy being permitted to use the oil by the Home Office.

Twelve-year-old Billy Caldwell suffers up to 100 seizures a day, and his mum Charlotte says that the cannabis oil he uses saves his life.

The oil was initially confiscated at Heathrow airport after Charlotte attempted to bring it into the country. However, after little Billy was rushed into hospital, Home Secretary Sajid Javid granted the family a special licence, meaning he can use the cannabis oil at hospital.

PA

Now, MPs are calling for decimalisation of cannabis oil for medical use.

MP Crispin Blunt, co-chair of the all-parliamentary group on drug policy reform told the Guardian: "Billy Caldwell is one child out of many hundreds, as well as many thousands of adults, who would benefit from cannabis derived medicines in the UK.

"We already happily accept the medicinal value of other plants such as poppies which can be used to create effective opioid painkillers and morphine as well as heroin. Seventy-five percent of the British public support medical cannabis and the UK is ironically the world's largest producer and exporter of legal cannabis."


Meanwhile, Billy's mum Charlotte has also vowed to fight to legalise the oil. Speaking after the Home Secretary revealed he had granted a licence for Billy, she said: "History has been made today. One little boy has achieved the impossible. Billy's medication has been released by the Home Office and is on its way. Today was about Billy.

"But from tomorrow it's about thousands of other children and families.

"My experience throughout this leaves me in no doubt the Home Office can no longer play a role, in fact play any role, in the administration of medication for sick children in our country."

Conservative MP Dan Poulter - who also works part-time as a doctor - agreed, saying: "When there is growing evidence of the benefits of prescribing medicinal cannabis then it seems extraordinary that we can't do so.

"The legitimate medical needs of patients are being seen through the prism of drugs legislation from 1971. That can't be right, sensible or humane.

PA

"As a doctor, I can prescribe opioids and benzodiazepines to my patients, (which are illegal as street drugs) but thanks to the current law, I am unable to prescribe medicinal cannabis products to the patients who need them, despite an increasingly compelling medical case to allow me to do so.

"The law needs to change, which is why I am working with other doctors in the Parliament across all parties to present evidence to Government and to ensure that patients who can benefit from medically prescribed cannabis will be able to do so in the future."

Billy had previously been prescribed the oil by his GP, but in May this year was told this could not continue - prompting Charlotte to fly to Canada to get her hands on some.

But not everyone is backing a bill to change the law. Dr Michael Bloomfield from the University College London told the BBC that the use of cannabis oil is 'far from straightforward' and that a change in the could be 'a potential way of decriminalising cannabis through the back door'.

Sources: BBC; The Guardian

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News