Billy Caldwell Will Be Allowed To Use Cannabis Oil

The Home Office will allow 12-year-old Billy Caldwell to use cannabis oil, according to a family spokesperson.

Billy has severe epilepsy which his mother Charlotte has been treating with the oil; however, the oil was confiscated from her when she flew into London from Canada.

The young boy was rushed into hospital yesterday.

Speaking outside the hospital on Saturday, Charlotte said: "Unfortunately, Billy had two more seizures overnight which has pushed him more into a crisis situation.

"The Home Office, myself and my team have been working extremely hard throughout the night to make this happen, which is truly amazing, but there can only be one conclusion here: that my beautiful sweet little boy, who has a life-threatening form of epilepsy and one seizure can kill him, he needs his medicine back today.

"There's a lot of bureaucracy around this and we are working towards obviously Billy getting his medicine and it's just one step at a time, but we are confident the Home Office is working with us and we are going to get this done."

The family and officials then began talks, which has resulted in the government releasing the cannabis oil.

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Home Secretary Sajid Javid says he has used 'an exceptional power' as Home Secretary to get a licence issued for the Caldwells, according to Sky News.

Billy was the first in the UK to receive a consignment of the drug on the NHS to help him with his intractable epilepsy, which leaves him with suffering with up to 100 seizures a day. Charlotte says the medical cannabis virtually cured Billy's symptoms and improved his quality of life.

But according to Charlotte, authorities told their family doctor to stop handing out the life-saving treatment - which was when she flew to Canada, where the drug is legal, to stock up on the medicine before Billy's ran out.

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Billy's GP, who wished to remain anonymous, told MailOnline: "The debate on cannabis is so muddled - this is not recreational cannabis but a safe, regulated drug. And this is not just for Billy. There are 240 other children in Northern Ireland alone who suffer intractable epilepsy.

"Can you imagine how cruel it is to see children having these seizures knowing there is a drug that could help but they are not allowed it? We have to find a solution."

Topics: UK News

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19