Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
STALEMATE AT STORMONT STALLS CANNABIS CHANGE
Ulster patients to miss out on UK legalisation
FAMILIES desperate for the chance to access medicinal cannabis in Northern Ireland are not yet fully covered by the incoming law change.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said on Thursday he would reclassify medical cannabis in the autumn.
This will allow doctors to prescribe it in exceptional circumstances under what civil servants are referring to as Billy’s Law, after Co Tyrone lad Billy Caldwell whose fight helped lead the calls for change.
But even when the reclassification is complete in Westminster, clinicians in Northern Ireland will be prevented from writing the same prescriptions until Stormont agrees the changes too.
The UUP’S Roy Beggs said: “To see Billy’s Law implemented in the UK but not where Billy himself lives is just not acceptable.
“This is a law intended for everyone and that includes us here in Northern Ireland.
“Westminster can pass this law and reschedule medicinal cannabis to include us in the change – but they have to be asked to do that. It won’t just happen without a request.
“When the Assembly is functioning, legislative consent motions are passed asking for Northern Ireland to be included in changes being made at
YESTERDAY UUP
Westminster. It’s a good system. But the Assembly is not functioning so the normal way of passing a motion of legislative consent which means we have to find an other way.”
After making history on Thursday with the Home Secretary’s announcement, Billy and his mum Charlotte were yesterday handed the full licence which allows the 13-year-old to have his medical cannabis administered and stored by his mum.
Charlotte said: “With the licences through, Billy will have his medication and this legal situation will protect him for ever.
“But now the fight starts to get Billy’s Law fully implemented in Northern Ireland for every other family who are not yet in our position and don’t have access to this incredible medication. THERE was relief for Billy Caldwell last night after his mum Charlotte finally got his medicinal cannabis drops back.
The 13-year-old from Castlederg, Co Tyrone, lives with epilepsy and autism.
And last night, a monthand-a-half after the Tilray medication was confiscated from his mother Charlotte at Heathrow Airport, it was back in her possession.
And an hour before Billy went to bed, his mum gave him two drops of his medication, an oil containing 20% CBD and 2% THC, the element that caused it to be outlawed and taken away from her.
Now Billy and Sophia Gibson, seven, from Newtownards, Co Down, have their drops and licences to allow them to be given by their parents. So in the spirit of never being idle when presented with an obstacle, we’re arranging to meet with as many Northern Ireland MLAS and MPS as we can and requesting Secretary of State Karen Bradley joins us.
“In that meeting those politicians will be requesting the UK Government implements in Northern Ireland identical procedures as will benefit families across the rest of the UK.”
Members of the Stormont parties are expected to meet in early August to discuss the matter.
Following the Government’s decision, Epilepsy Society chief Clare Pelham said: “This is a good and prompt decision by the Home Secretary.
“It brings our regulatory system into the 21st century. We have world class science and research in the UK.
“And we look to the Government to support us with world class regulatory systems which enable us to provide the best possible medical treatment to patients in this country.
“These changes will go a long way towards providing us with a system which is both evidence-based and
person-centred. fraudsters tried to hide the “dirty cash” from illegal tobacco sales by buying high-value vehicles and selling them on.
They fronted a Uk-based business, and hijacked the identity of a legitimate business, in order to launder the proceeds and avoid paying VAT.
Pritchard was jailed for 10 years, Hindle was sentenced to five-and-ahalf years and Smith received five years.
HMRC’S Antony Capon said: “They thought that by setting up a fake business and funnelling cash through it they would somehow stay under HMRC’S radar.
“They were wrong and it was foolish of them to believe they could get away with such a largescale fraud.”