![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2.4862500.jpg\")
Cannabis-based medicinal products will be available in Northern Ireland from today.<\/p>\nCannabis-based medicinal products will be available in Northern Ireland from today.<\/p>\n
The products can only be obtained if they have been prescribed by a specialist hospital doctor.<\/p>\n
The North’s Department of Health (DoH) says patients must have an unmet clinical needs.<\/p>\n
The move follows a high profile campaign for the relaxation of regulations around cannabis-based products for medicinal use.<\/p>\n
Billy Caldwell, 13, of Castlederg, Co Tyrone, hit the headlines during the campaign.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, he received national attention when his medicinal cannabis was confiscated by the UK’s Home Office after a trip to Canada to access the medication.<\/p>\n
Billy suffers from a severe form of epilepsy and his mother Charlotte says medicinal cannabis products help to ease his symptoms.<\/p>\n
She spent years campaigning for the law change.<\/p>\n
The Home Office then gave him a short-term license and the DoH issued an emergency license to allow him access to cannabis oil medication.<\/p>\n
Belfast Health Trust secured a license to administer the medication to Billy at the Royal Victoria Hospital.<\/p>\n
He was then given permission to receive the medication at his Castlederg home.<\/p>\n
In early October, Britain’s Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced a decision to reschedule the products, relaxing the rules around the circumstances in which they can be given to patients, after considering expert advice from a specially commissioned review.<\/p>\n
Charlotte said she wept happy tears at the move.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat started out as a journey for me as Billy\u2019s mummy to help my little boy has become something much bigger,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
From November 1, cannabis-based products for medicinal use can be prescribed by specialist hospital doctors for their patients with an unmet clinical need.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the DoH said: \u201cIt is important that prescribing decisions are taken by expert clinicians informed by evidence on quality, safety and effectiveness.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, prescribing of cannabis-based products for medicinal use is restricted to clinicians listed on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council.<\/p>\n
\u201cCannabis-based products for medicinal use will not be available from General Practitioners.\u201d<\/p>\n
The department added: \u201cIt is important to note that the rescheduling of cannabis-based products for medicinal use does not pave the way towards legalizing cannabis for recreational use.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe penalties for unauthorized supply and possession will remain unchanged.\u201d<\/p>\n
Epilepsy Action deputy chief executive Simon Wigglesworth welcomed the move but said the current guidance \u201cseems extremely restrictive\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s change in the law should open the door for some children and adults with severe epilepsy to access potentially life-changing treatment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile this change is an important step forward, the guidance we have seen so far on how it will work in practice seems extremely restrictive.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt suggests that cannabis-based medicines will only be an option for a very limited number of people with epilepsy \u2013 children with Dravet or Lennox Gastaut syndrome.<\/p>\n
\u201cThough this is welcome, there are children and adults with other complex and treatment-resistant epilepsy syndromes who could potentially also benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n