The government has bowed to public pressure overnight and has returned Billy Caldwell’s live-saving cannabis oil.
Government officials drafted emergency legislation to urgently issue the licence to allow Castlederg boy Billy (12) to be receive the medicinal oil.
The seven small bottles will last Billy six months. After outcry on social media, petitions and rallies, the oil was released by Nick Hurd’s office just after midnight and taken to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital where Billy had been admitted after suffering a series of epileptic fits.
There have also been calls for Mr Hurd and the Prime Minister Theresa May to resign. The revelation of relationships between ministers – including Theresa May – and the UK’s cannabis oil industry have outraged people.
The cannabis oil was seized from mum Charlotte after she flew into Heathrow on Monday with her son.
Brilliant news. Well done to all those pushing for Billy to be given the cannabis oil he so clearly needs. Great effort and hope his condition improves soon ??? #BillyCaldwell
— Andrew Maguire (@amagga81) June 16, 2018
The Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: “This morning, I’ve used an exceptional power…to urgently issue a licence to allow Billy Caldwell to be treated with cannabis oil…on the advice of senior clinicians who have made clear this is a medical emergency.”
Billy began using cannabis oil in 2016 to control his seizures and had been 300 days free of fits.
The cannabis oil, which contains a substance called Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is illegal in the UK but available elsewhere.
At last! Someone saw sense! Good luck brave #billycaldwell and courageous mum #CharlotteCaldwell https://t.co/8WqAOTVpF4
— Tara Kennedy (@tarakennedy1) June 16, 2018