A young man who previously experienced 800 seizures daily has now been seizure-free for three years following the administration of medical cannabis. Billy Caldwell’s life took a significant turn for the better with this treatment after medical professionals had cautioned that his severe epilepsy posed a life-threatening risk. Billy, now 20 years old, commenced using cannabis oil in September 2016, eventually compelling the UK government to amend existing laws.
This transformation occurred after Billy’s crucial medication was confiscated at London Heathrow upon his return from Canada in June 2018, leading to his hospitalization due to a series of seizures. His determined mother, Charlotte, played a vital role in pushing for legislative changes, resulting in Billy’s NHS-funded prescription for cannabis being reinstated in 2018. From enduring prolonged seizures at just four months old, Billy is now relishing a normal life, engaging in activities like horse riding and swimming.
Expressing her relief, Charlotte from Northern Ireland stated, “I finally have Billy back. It was incredibly challenging when he was having numerous seizures, hindering his ability to stand or speak. Now, we are actively participating in outings. Billy enjoys horse riding and is leading a nearly typical life. I never anticipated that he would remain seizure-free for three years. It’s truly a miracle.”
While commemorating this milestone, Charlotte cautions that access to medical cannabis remains excessively costly, inconsistent, and heavily reliant on private clinics. She emphasized, “Reducing his seizures from 800 a day to none over three years, Billy is not just surviving but thriving – an extraordinary feat considering doctors initially doubted his chances of survival beyond his first birthday.”
Furthermore, Charlotte highlighted concerns about the current system, stating, “The government needs to promptly address the issue of recreational prescribing within the medical sector.” The framework for legitimate medical cannabis prescriptions in the UK was initiated when the then home secretary, Sajid Javid, granted Billy the UK’s first license for medical cannabis administration in June 2018. Javid’s subsequent inquiry into the potential benefits of medical cannabis led to its rescheduling in November of the same year, permitting expert doctors to legally prescribe cannabis-based medications.
Although these changes have benefited over 50,000 medical cannabis patients in the UK, only a few NHS-funded whole plant prescriptions have been issued, with private clinics accounting for the majority of prescriptions. Estimates suggest that approximately 2.6 million adults in the UK have used cannabis recreationally in the past year, with illegal cannabis being valued at £2.6 billion a decade ago based on credible estimates.
Charlotte stressed the importance of providing legitimate access to cannabis for recreational users, advocating for a clear distinction between recreational and medical use to enhance accessibility for vulnerable individuals in society. At the upcoming 420 event in Hyde Park on April 20, Charlotte plans to launch TRACD, urging governments across the UK and British crown dependencies to support a regulated recreational pilot for adult cannabis use.
If approved, these pilots could offer participants regulated cannabis products and conduct health monitoring, gathering relevant data to guide the development of a modern cannabis policy. Charlotte stated, “TRACD aims to align medical cannabis policy intentions with practical implementation, ensuring appropriate care for medical cannabis patients while enabling safe and legal access for recreational adult users, thereby diminishing support for the illicit cannabis market.”
