MPs and MLAs agreed and gave backing to Charlotte Caldwell to take four key courses of action
A cross-party group of Northern Ireland MLAs and MPs has stood shoulder-to-shoulder in Stormont to support “Billy’s Law” – a proposal to introduce medicinal cannabis legislation in line with England, Scotland and Wales.
In what could be a first, politicians all agreed that when the laws on medicinal cannabis access change in the rest of the UK, so too should they in Northern Ireland.
Billy’s Law is named after Billy Caldwell, whose mum Charlotte successfully led a campaign to get medicinal cannabis laws changed in the UK after her son’s meds were confiscated at Heathrow Airport on June 11, 2018 – but, ironically, authorities everywhere except Northern Ireland have been allowed to embrace that change.
MPs and MLAs agreed and gave backing to Charlotte Caldwell to take four key courses of action:
- To write to Home Secretary Sajid Javid asking for medicinal cannabis access laws to also be changed in Northern Ireland when they are changed in the rest of the UK.
- To write to the Northern Ireland Health Service Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly and Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride requesting a meeting with them, and for their support for the changes.
- Write to the chief executive of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Martin Dillon, requesting a meeting with him and senior colleagues to ask for their support in driving change.
- Take whatever action deemed appropriate to endeavour to change the culture and thinking of the NHS in Northern Ireland when it comes to treatment involving medicinal cannabis.
“That was an amazing meeting. I found it incredible that there was such consistent agreement across the political spectrum. There was no dissent or disagreement whatsoever,” said Charlotte Caldwell.
“We can’t see how any politicians or bureaucrats whether in Northern Ireland can stand in the way of Billy’s Law.
Any delay or opposition by anybody in the legislative process will not only be completely out of step with both public and political mood, but will also cause more unnecessary uncertainty for many people who believe they could benefit from access to medicinal cannabis, but also inflict further cost on the already cash-strapped health service in Northern Ireland.”
Source – Facebook – Keep Billy Alive
