MEDICINAL cannabis will be made available in the UK within WEEKS after the Home Office agreed a shake-up of the drugs laws.

The landmark move will pave the way for thousands of patients battling serious conditions to get relief from pain and seizures.

3 The case of severely epileptic 12-year-old Billy Caldwell helped bring the issue into the public eye Credit: PA

It comes after a flurry of high-profile cases including 13-year-old Billy Caldwell from Belfast, whose mum Charlotte had a supply of the treatment seized at Heathrow.

Charlotte, who was celebrating her son's birthday with him today, said: "For the first time in months I'm almost lost for words.

"That the Home Secretary has announced that medicinal cannabis can now be prescribed by GPs on Billy's 13th birthday is amazing.

"Never has Billy received a better birthday present."

3 The change in the law will mean patients like Alfie Dingley can get the oil on prescription Credit: PA

Charlotte Caldwell ​and her son Billy sen​d​ ​a​ video message ​thanking​ supporters​ ​after her son got back the medicinal cannabis oil she says have saved his life

In high demand – the story behind the push to legalise cannabis oil WITH the Home Office’s decision to relax the laws around cannabis oil, here is the lowdown on the controversial medicine. What is it? Cannabis oil is a substance extracted from the cannabis plant by steam distillation. Why is it illegal? While a low-concentrate version of the oil is available to buy in the UK and is not illegal — those products must contain a very low amount of THC, the component in cannabis that makes users feel "high". The products used to treat serious conditions contain a higher level of THC, and therefore fall foul of psychoactive drug laws. What has changed? A review into the uses of cannabis-derived medicines has led to the relaxation in the law, meaning a number of them will be “rescheduled”, and allows doctors to prescribe them. When will this happen? The Department for Health said patients should be able to apply for prescriptions in the autumn. In the meantime, clinicians will still be able to apply to the independent Expert Panel on behalf of patients to get special dispensation to use them before then. But all licence fees for applications made to the panel will be waived, and no fees will be charged in respect of applications which have already been granted.

She added: "Crucially, my little boy Billy can now live a normal life with his mummy because of the simple ability to now administer a couple of drops a day of a long-maligned but entirely effective natural medication."

Earlier, Home Secretary Sajid Javid had announced cannabis products will be on offer to patients by the autumn following recommendations from the Chief Medical Officer.

The move comes after a two-part review by medical experts which was launched in June after the Caldwell case drew huge media attention.

Billy, along with six-year-old Alfie Dingley, has a form of severe intractable epilepsy, which appears to be eased by the use of cannabis oil.

3 Mum-of-two Ceri Jones has been using medicinal cannabis to treat her pancreatic cancer

They were both given special dispensation to use it but the change in policy means clinicians will be able to prescribe cannabis-derived medicines to lots more patients like them.

“There are lots of other potential uses, after The Sun revealed people like mum-of-two Ceri Jones are using it to treat forms of cancer.

The Department for Health will work with the Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency to work out what products can be reclassified and then prescribed.

But the Government is clear that today’s announcement “does not pave the way towards legalising cannabis for recreational use”.

Mr Javid said: “Recent cases involving sick children made it clear to me that our position on cannabis-related medicinal products was not satisfactory.

Mum shares heartbreaking video of son, five, suffering epileptic fit in desperate bid to get him cannabis oil

MOST READ IN POLITICS: furlough 2.0 Rishi announces furlough plan where workers get 77% pay for doing 1/3 hours REALITY CHEQUE Chancellor admits new £5bn furlough plan won't stop mass job losses XMAS FEAR Uni students could be banned from going home for Christmas due to coronavirus ROAD TO WIGAN FEAR Stockport and Wigan could face fresh coronavirus lockdown rules in days SWEDE TALK PM spoke with Sweden’s anti-lockdown mastermind before announcing new measures LOCKED IN Triple lock boost for pensions STAYS after 'Boris Johnson overrules Rishi Sunak'

“That is why we launched a review and set up an expert panel to advise on licence applications in exceptional circumstances.

“Following advice from two sets of independent advisors, I have taken the decision to reschedule cannabis-derived medicinal products – meaning they will be available on prescription.

“This will help patients with an exceptional clinical need, but is in no way a first step to the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use.”

Today’s law change is partly down to the backing by chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies, who said it was now difficult to defend keeping cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug of no therapeutic potential.

In response former minister Sir Mike Penning said: "I have just spoken to the Home Secretary to say how pleased I am that he has acted so quickly and I pay testament to the families and campaigners that have fought so hard to achieve this dramatic change in policy.”

The MP, co-chairman of a parliamentary group on Medical Cannabis, said: "This announcement brings hope to many thousands of people.

"However, there is still a very important body of work to define exactly which products will be allowed and how they will be regulated."