A CO Tyrone boy who became the first person to be prescribed medical cannabis on the NHS is to be the face of a new brand of oil derived from the marijuana plant.
Billy Caldwell (11), from Castlederg, made history earlier this year he was prescribed oil containing CBD – an extract from cannabis – to help with life-threatening epilepsy that caused him to suffer up to 100 seizures a day.
His mother Charlotte campaigned to be allowed medical cannabis on home soil after being forced to sleep rough with Billy in Los Angeles, where they were able to avail of legal, yet costly, marijuana treatments.
They returned to Ireland and were offered a prescription for cannabis oil on the NHS, setting a precedent for other patients keen to use the non-psychoactive CBD extract to treat a range of conditions including MS and chronic pain.
Now a medical cannabis firm, 710 Holdings MME, is launching ‘Billy’s Bud’ CBD oil, a product inspired by Billy’s bravery.
His mother Charlotte told the Irish News that she hoped the oil would help other families benefit from medical cannabis.
“We are overwhelmed with this, and the oil will be available all over the US, Ireland, the UK, and Europe,” she said.
‘Bud’ is slang for cannabis, and Ms Caldwell added: “We have nicknamed Billy ‘the Boy Behind the Bud’, so this product is a great way to celebrate his ongoing bravery while living with epilepsy.”
