Pressure mounts to grant cannabis oil licence after mother reveals Billy Caldwell's medicine may only last two months

The Home Office has only until the end of the month to decide whether cannabis oil can be imported to treat 12-year-old Billy Caldwell's epilepsy, it emerged last night, after his mother realised that her supply may last only two months instead of six. 

Currently, doctors have been given a 20-day licence to administer one of the seven bottles of the drug Charlotte Caldwell brought to the UK from Canada. 

During those 20 days, the family expected the government to make a decision on whether the rest of Ms Caldwell's supply - which is currently held by the Home Office - could be released to treat Billy. 

A decision on whether more bottles could be imported was expected by the family to be made within five months - the amount of time they believed was needed to ensure Billy did not run out of his medication.

However, Ms Caldwell has now been informed  privately by doctors that the seven bottles will have to be administered at a faster rate than previously expected, as the dosage needs to be increased over time.

In order for more of the medication to be imported in time, the government would now have to fast-track the authorisation for import in the next 16 days.

The government is expected to make a statement to the House of Commons this week on the licensing of medical cannabis. 

“This only adds pressure to the Home Office to make a decision on Billy’s medicine,” Ms Caldwell told The Telegraph on Sunday night. 

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“The clock is ticking and the world is watching. Let’s hope they make the right decision.”

A week ago, the seven bottles of cannabis oil which Ms Caldwell had purchased in Canada believing it to be a six month supply were confiscated at Heathrow Airport.

On Friday night, after negotiations that lasted until 2am, Billy was permitted to have one bottle of the oil under a special licence, leaving the Home Office in possession of the other six.

Ms Caldwell called yesterday for the rest of the medication to be returned to her son, but was told privately by doctors that even the full supply will last just eight weeks.

In order to get more cannabis oil into Britain, the Home Office must first grant a licence for import.

After the licence is granted, the supplier in Canada can request an export licence from the Canadian government, a process which takes 30 days, before it is flown to the UK.

The delay in Canada means that the Home Office must grant its licence in the next 16 days, or Billy’s supply may run out, putting him at risk of further seizures.

Billy’s seizures worsened last week after the oil was confiscated, and he was hospitalised on Friday.  Billy is currently being treated with the first bottle of the oil at Chelsea and Westminster hospital. 

A Home Office spokesman said: “As the Home Secretary said yesterday, this is a very complex situation and our immediate priority has been to make sure Billy receives the most effective treatment in a safe way.

“The decision to use an exceptional power to issue a Schedule 1 licence was based on the advice of senior clinicians who made clear it was a medical emergency.

“Ministers will be providing an update to the House on the decision made over the weekend and the licensing of medicinal cannabis as soon as parliamentary time allows.”