A MOTHER of a four-year-old boy with epilepsy is calling for medicinal cannabis to be legalised.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has said there will be a review as to whether cannabis oil should be allowed following several high profile cases.

There is a legal form of the drug as an oil containing cannabidiol which has been seen to have the medicinal properties.

Now more than 200,000 people have signed a petition calling for the oil to be legalised when it contains cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for medicinal purposes as they claim this has even better results.

One mum backing the calls is Caroline Inches, who lives in Wickford, whose four-year-old-son Oscar has cerebral palsy and regular fits.

She already gives the youngster legal cannabis oil but is keen to see oil containing THC legalised as she thinks it will have greater benefits.

She said: “I truly think if medical cannabis was available in the UK it could help save the NHS millions. I already give Oscar the legal oil to help with his cerebral palsy.

“It cannot cure his condition but can have positive effects for pain management, improved sleep and less spasticity in his muscles.

“I have seen an improvement to his quality of life and would love to see whether cannabidiol oil with THC included as this could have an even greater benefit for him especially as a rescue medicine for when he has a seizure which can last for up to four hours and has resulted in an admission to intensive care on a ventilator on three occasions.

“Aside from Oscar I know many children who are on numerous epilepsy medicines all with heavy side effects and still their seizures are uncontrolled.

“Outside of the world of cerebral palsy and epilepsy, medical cannabis has shown success in helping with anxiety, stress, cancer suffers, multiple sclerosis suffers and those who suffer from Fibromyalgia.

“We need to catch up with science.”

There have been a number of other high profile parents calling for the oil to be legalised, including Charlotte Caldwell, whose son Billy, 12, has severe epilepsy.

Possession of cannabis containing THC is currently categorised as a class B drug and anyone found with the drug could be imprisoned for up to five years while supplying it can be punished with a 14-year jail sentence - or an unlimited fine.

Mr Javid has stressed the drug would remain banned for recreational use. To sign the petition, visit change.org/p/legalise-cannabis-oil-for-medical-use-in-the-uk-through-the-nhs