THE mother of a boy who suffers from drug-resistant epilepsy has joined calls for cannabis oil to be legalised for use to treat the disorder.

After the Government’s landmark decision to grant permission for Billy Caldwell to be treated with cannabis oil, Emma Smith has called on the Government “to give children an opportunity to get treatment that has been proven to work” to help her five-year-old son.

Mrs Smith’s son, Oscar, has myoclonic astatic epilepsy - also known as Doose syndrome - and suffers up to 300 seizures a day.

Oscar has been on a range of medication to try and control the seizures, but nothing has helped to stop the problems as his disorder also builds up resistance to the medication quickly.

The calls for cannabis oil come after the Home Office intervened to give a 20-day licence to Billy Caldwell to use the drug to treat his epilepsy.

Mrs Smith, who worked as a learning disability nurse before leaving to care for Oscar and his younger brother, said: “We have not tried cannabis oils.

“Oscar is waiting at the moment to see if he will go in for surgery, but doctors have told us it would not stop the seizures, just reduce the frequency.

“If there is something out there which is proven to work for seizures resistant to medication, why not try that first before the trauma of surgery and medication which we don’t know will work.

“His father and I have discussed taking him abroad for cannabis oil but we believe we should be able to access it here in the UK, safely with the supervision of doctors.

“I don’t want to trail him to get medication which we then can’t bring home anyway.”

Mrs Smith, 34, is in a number of groups with parents in similar circumstances to her family, and said there is a groundswell of support for legalising cannabis for epilepsy treatment.

“I speak to parents from all over the UK and in America - where it is available - and support is building and gaining momentum,” she said.

“People want the opportunity to help their children, and I think Billy’s case is a landmark moment as it has been recognised that cannabis helps, you cannot question it.

“His mother, Charlotte Caldwell, has been incredible and has led the way for all of us to try and help our children.”

Mrs Smith, who lives in Swain House, said she hopes the Government makes a decision “soon, as there are so many children that could benefit”.

“With Doose Syndrome it’s very difficult to treat and does not respond to medication.

“I would like to see the Government give families with children like Oscar and Billy the chance to at least try it before resorting to surgery to give these young children the chance to live well.”

The seizures suffered by Oscar result in numerous ‘jerks’ and ‘absences’ each day, like he has had an electric shock, and on his last hospital admission had around 300 seizures in 11 hours.

The seizures started around his first birthday, and have left him with communication difficulties.

Yesterday, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has announced a review of the medicinal use of cannabis.

Mr Javid announced the move in the wake of a series of appeals from parents who want their children to be able to access medications which can alleviate epilepsy and other illnesses.

However, he stressed it would remain illegal for recreational use, despite a call from Lord William Hague to legalise the drug.

Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, has also urged caution over cannabis.

He said there are “clearly very strong reasons” for a clinical review into prescription of cannabis-derived compounds for certain medical conditions, but stated: “I think it’s very important as a country that we don’t confuse this debate around specifically prescribable products for certain medical conditions, with a much more generalised debate around the decriminalisation or legalisation of marijuana, without at the same time reminding ourselves that there are some genuine health risks there.”