Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has welcomed news a mother seeking a cannabis oil supply to treat her sick son has been advised he could apply for a trial into medicinal use.
Charlotte Caldwell’s son Billy suffers from severe epilepsy and recently had a batch of the drug confiscated at Heathrow Airport. She has now been told the 12-year-old could apply for a clinical trial into the use of cannabis oil for medical purposes.
“I wrote to then-Health Minister Michelle O’Neill in December, asking could she inform whether the Department had any proposals to research or investigate the potential health benefits of cannabis oil in Northern Ireland.
“I received a response in March advising the Department is not funding or aware of any research studies, and that it was continuing to “monitor the opinion of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency on this issue”.
“I feel Billy and his mother have already been through much in their campaign to avail of suitable and effective medical treatment for his epilepsy, and so I would urge the Department of Health to ensure it engages with medical researchers and academics to make sure this happens without further delay.”