OF TORTURE

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said: “The overriding priority of any government should be preserving the life and well-being of our citizens. “This is all that Billy Caldwell’s mum wants for her son. The Government’s current approach to medical drugs is simply not doing that.”

Former Government drugs adviser David Nutt said Mr Javid had made a “landmark decision” as it “concedes the medicinal value of cannabis oil”.

He added: “It has further implications as Billy won’t want to spend his life in hospital to be treated. The Government will therefore need a new strategy, which I would suggest should be to move control of drugs from the Home Office whose only policy response is prohibition, to the Department of Health who at least have the competence to evaluate medical claims. There will be many other people in the UK with severe epilepsy who are likely to benefit from medical cannabis and provision must be made to stop them suffering brain damage and death from cannabistreatable seizures.”

Dr Frank D’ambrosio, a leading US medical cannabis practitioner, questioned why the Home Secretary waited until Billy was in hospital before allowing him the medicine.

He said: “There are a dozen other patients in Britain who need this treatment immediately. We need ‘Billy’s Law’ to pave the way for everyone in desperate need of life-saving cannabis medication to receive it.”

Mr Javid said he used “an exceptional power” to “urgently issue” a licence to treat Billy with cannabis oil.

He added: “This is a very complex situation, but our immediate priority is making sure Billy receives the most effective treatment possible in a safe way. My decision is based on the advice of senior clinicians who made clear this is a medical emergency.”

Voice of Sunday People: Page 14