The UK government must review cannabis-based products used as medicines “as a matter of urgency”.
That’s the view of Ley Sander, who is the medical director of the Epilepsy Society.
Ley Sander, medical director of the Epilepsy Society: he says the government must urgently review the licensing of cannabis products
Sander made the comment before the Home Office did a u-turn and allowed Billy Caldwell’s mother Charlotte Caldwell to treat his epilepsy with cannabis oil.
First UK prescription for cannabis
Last year Billy became the UK’s first person to get a prescription for medicinal cannabis.
But the Department of Health later told his GP, Dr Brendan O’Hare, to stop giving him the drug.
Charlotte Caldwell, from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, says Billy suffered his first seizure in nearly a year after customs at Heathrow Airport confiscated cannabis oil she brought from Canada.
Up to 40 per cent of children with autism have epilepsy. In Israel and parts of the US families already treat autism with cannabis.
Sander said: “This case underlines the need to review the licensing of cannabidiol products as a matter of urgency so that physicians and patients – or their parents – can work together to make sure that the most appropriate and safest medication is prescribed within the law.”
‘Children dying’ through lack of cannabis oil
Caldwell wants the oil freely available. She warned that “children are dying in our country and it needs to stop now”.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said he issued a licence to allow Billy to be treated with cannabis oil after discussions with his medical team.
Sir Mike Penning MP is the proposed chairman of the new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Medical Cannabis Under Prescription. He maintains that using medical cannabis is about “relieving suffering”.
Related:
- US Army tests cannabis extract on autism
- World-first trial of cannabis for autism
- Drugs agency halts cannabis treatments
Published: 18 June 2018
