Boy who changed law on medicinal cannabis thriving as he turns 21
Summary
Billy Caldwell, who has a severe form of epilepsy, has been free of seizures for three years after being prescribed cannabis-based medicine. His case helped change UK laws to allow some doctors to prescribe medical cannabis, though access and cost remain difficult for many families.Key Facts
- Billy Caldwell has a severe and life-threatening epilepsy that once caused him up to 800 seizures a day.
- Traditional anti-epileptic drugs did not control his seizures.
- His mother, Charlotte, sought treatment abroad and found cannabis-based medicine that stopped his seizures.
- Billy has now been seizure-free for three years and shows improved physical and social abilities.
- Billy’s treatment was once seized at Heathrow Airport, sparking public debate and political action on medical cannabis.
- In 2018, UK law changed to allow specialist doctors to prescribe cannabis medicines in certain cases.
- Access to prescribed cannabis remains limited, mostly available privately and often very expensive.
- Billy receives his medicine through the NHS, but many families cannot afford private prescriptions.
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