AN EPILEPSY sufferer from the Isle of Wight, who has broken both his neck and spine in violent seizures, has been waiting three years for cannabis oil that he says could cure him.

In the week the case of Billy Caldwell sparked a national debate about the prescription of cannabis oil, after his medication was confiscated by officials at Heathrow airport, 31-year-old Edward Gentry from Cowes said he was placed on a waiting list for a cannabis oil trial in 2015.

Three years on and his family still have no idea if, or when, he will be given access to the oil.

Edward, a graphic designer, said he feels as if his 'life is on hold' while he waits for treatment. At his worst, he had up to 40 seizures a day.

He said he was unable to find a job because some days he just 'rolls in and out' of seizures, making it difficult to meet deadlines.

"I am sick of having seizures," he said. "Life is quite hard, and lonely.

"It's just exhausting having that many seizures every day."

Edward, who was born with brain damage, first began experiencing seizures when he was 14. They are sensory based, so even a light gust of wind coming through the window is enough to set him off.

He now takes three different drugs, bringing the number of seizures down to four or five a day. However, at one point, a concoction of medication made him so 'psychotic' his parents had no choice but to have him arrested, twice.

His mother, Judith, said: "We then took him into hospital and he ripped the curtains from the room."

His family are desperately hoping cannabis oil could be the cure they are waiting for.

"We simply need the drugs," said his father, Alan. "It's not about getting high, or recreational use. That clouds the argument."

Edward added: "We do not know if it will work for me, but I'd like to be given a chance."

Edward now lives in a 'padded' flat, nine seconds away from the family home. His parents have tried to minimise the number of sharp corners, or places he could hurt himself during a seizure.

However, his head is covered in scars from previous fits and he has had two lots of surgery to fix his broken spine and neck.

Currently, cannabis oil is not available to be prescribed by the Isle of Wight NHS — or any other medical body.

Anyone seeking to obtain a license would have to be referred by a clinician to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has spoken out in support of residents seeking cannabis oil for medicinal purposes.

Mr Seely said: "It's got nothing to do with getting high. It's about preserving life.

"People are suffering, we should just get on with it."

Mr Seely said he was compiling evidence of residents affected by the ban on prescribing cannabis oil in the UK.

On Tuesday,  home secretary Sajid Javid announced a major review into medicinal cannabis. A panel to consider applications for special consent for use of cannabis oil and similar substances are expected to start work within days.

In the UK, cannabis remains in Schedule 1 under the Misuse of Drugs Act, which labels it as “having no medical value”. The active ingredient in cannabis, THC, is illegal, and possession can result in a jail sentence of up to five years.

CBD and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are two types of cannabinoids found naturally in the resin of the marijuana plant.

A cannabis-based drug called Sativex, which contains THC and CBD, has been licensed in the UK to treat MS.

Another cannabinoid drug, called Nabilone, is sometimes used to relieve sickness for people undergoing chemotherapy.

Trials are under way to test cannabis-based drugs for other conditions including cancer pain, appetite loss in people with HIV and AIDs, and epilepsy in children.

In theory, doctors could prescribe it for other things outside of this licence, but do so at their own risk.

Judith says Edward hasn't given up hope of Edward being put on a trial for cannabis oil: "We will continue fighting for him. We just need everyone else to catch up first."