There will be enormous relief over the intervention by the UK home secretary Sajid Javid yesterday which will allow doctors to prescribe cannabis-derived medicinal products by the autumn.
Among those to benefit from the move will be the 13-year-old severely epileptic Tyrone boy Billy Caldwell, whose mother Charlotte has been involved in a draining battle with the authorities over the treatment which he urgently requires.
There are complex factors involved in the use of cannabis oil , but it is entirely wrong that patients like Billy who can display an exceptional clinical need could be left in a vulnerable position.
While the wider issues will have to be kept under review, Mr Javid's decision was timely and deserves to be welcomed.
