From life-threatening seizures to thriving at 21: Billy Caldwell’s cannabis breakthrough

Billy Caldwell, a native of Castlederg in County Tyrone, was diagnosed with an aggressive epilepsy that triggered between 300 and 800 seizures each day, unresponsive to conventional drugs. His mother, Charlotte, pursued cannabis-derived medicine after trips to Los Angeles and Canada, a move that led to the seizure of his oil at Heathrow and thrust the issue into one outlet spotlight. The publicity contributed to the 2018 reform permitting specialist doctors to prescribe cannabis-based treatments in the UK.

With NHS support, Billy has now gone three years without a seizure, gaining better balance, the ability to navigate stairs, and increased social engagement. Despite these gains, Charlotte stresses that the current system relies on costly private prescriptions, leaving many vulnerable patients without access. She emphasizes that cannabis is not a miracle cure but a medication that, like any other, works for some and not for others.