Mum of autistic boy whose cannabis oil was seized at Heathrow accuses Government of ‘hypocrisy’ as firms linked to Tories invest in medicinal cannabis
The Prime Minister's husband’s firm is the largest investor in GW Pharmaceuticals, which mass produces medicinal cannabis oil here in the UK and ships it abroad
THE Government has been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged a company owned by Theresa May’s husband has links to a firm selling medicinal cannabis abroad.
The outrage comes from the mum of an autistic boy who was denied access to cannabis oil despite medical proof that it has stopped his seizures.
Charlotte Caldwell has fiercely campaigned for her son to get his medicine back, after it was taken off her at Heathrow as an illegal substance.
The devastated mum was left furious after it was revealed Mr May’s husband Philip’s firm Capital Group is the largest investor in GW Pharmaceuticals, which mass produces medicinal cannabis oil here in the UK where it is banned - only for it to be shipped to a foreign market.
It also emerged Tory drugs minister Victoria Atkins’ husband Paul Kenward is the boss of British Sugar, another medicinal cannabis supplier.
The news of the links comes just days after ministers insisted that the drug has “no medical value” and revoked it from Caldwell’s sick 12-year-old son Billy.
Charlotte from Northern Ireland accused the government of signing her son’s “death warrant” after the Home Office banned her son Billy's GP from prescribing the lifesaving medication.
She attempted to bring in six-months’ supply from Canada but had the oral drops confiscated at Heathrow on arrival “because of the law”.
The 50-year-old mum said: “Why is my son being left to die in his own country by his own government? I can tell you why: greed and hypocrisy – and it’s a recipe that will kill Billy.”
Speaking to the Mirror, Families4Access campaign spokesman Robbie Emerson, whose two-year-old daughter Jorja has fits, added: “It’s total hypocrisy. People are making money while children are dying because they can’t get this drug.
“How can the Government grant a licence to grow and sell it to other countries but not give it to our own people?”
Charlotte added: “A cannabis-rich government ensured he is going cold turkey off his medication.
“Billy was prescribed medicinal cannabis to save his life. It was taken away by the Government.
“Billy’s benefit would be to live and have a good quality of life.
“The Mays’ benefit I suggest is financial and of no importance compared to the life of my child.
“I wonder who the public would hold to account if my son suffered a catastrophic seizure that killed him.”
Billy was given a prescription for medicinal cannabis oil last year to help treat his epilepsy - in a case similar to that of six-year-old Alfie Dingley, who met with Theresa May in March in a bid to help change the law around the drug.
He has a form of the condition meaning he cannot get help through medication or diet.
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The youngster used to suffer up to 100 seizures a day until he began treatment with cannabis oil in the US, where medical marijuana is legal, in 2016.
In 2017, he became the first person in the UK to receive a prescription after his local GP Brendan O'Hare began writing scripts.
The doctor was summoned to a meeting with Home Office officials recently and warned told to desist or face being struck off.
GW Pharmaceuticals has been contacted for comment.
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