Billy Caldwell, from Castlederg in County Tyrone, has reached his 21st birthday, a milestone his mother, Charlotte Caldwell, once feared would never happen. Billy has a severe form of epilepsy and previously suffered between 300 and 800 life-threatening seizures a day.
Following a legal battle, Billy was prescribed a cannabis-based medicine that stopped his seizures. His mother stated that he has now been seizure-free for three years and is "not just surviving, but thriving."
Billy's case was prominent in the campaign to change Britain's rules on medical cannabis. An incident where his treatment was seized at Heathrow Airport after Charlotte returned from Canada with cannabis oil helped bring the issue to the political agenda. In 2018, it became legal for specialist doctors to prescribe cannabis-derived medicines under certain conditions.
Despite the legal change, Charlotte Caldwell believes access remains a significant problem, particularly for families unable to afford private treatment. She noted that while Billy receives his medicine through the NHS, many patients are left behind because prescription cannabis is primarily available through the private sector, requiring monthly payments of hundreds of pounds.