Report: 6-Year-Old Girl’s Life Saved by Cannabis Oil

News of a six-year-old girl’s life saved by cannabis oil hit headlines across the UK today, turning the public’s attention to the ongoing debates over medical cannabis treatments. The young patient, Jayla Agbonlahor, is in fact the youngest person with legal permission to use cannabis in the UK.

Back in 2015, Jayla’s parents finally received the go-ahead from UK officials to treat their daughter with cannabis oil. But since it’s illegal to purchase cannabis oil in the UK, Jayla’s mother, Louise Bostock, has to buy it from Holland.

6-Year-Old Girl’s Life Saved By Cannabis Oil: A Mother’s Saga

Prior to 2015, Bostock received word from her daughter’s doctors that Jayla was likely to die at a young age. Just days after her birth, Jayla was back at the hosital, having stopped breathing. And throughout her infancy, Jayla suffered from frequent, severe seizures.

She had difficulty eating and drinking, and difficulty walking and talking. These conditions led to Jayla’s hospitalization every three to four weeks, according to the Independent.

Because of the seizures, doctors initially thought Jayla was suffering from a rare form of epilepsy. But further tests ruled out epilepsy. Today, young Jayla still lives with an undiagnosed brain condition.

Doctors were unsure what was wrong with Jayla, and traditional treatments were proving ineffective. That’s when Jayla’s mother began researching medical cannabis oil.

When Jayla turned four, Bostock began secretly treating her with cannabis oil. When her child’s doctors found out, they were completely dismayed. What Bostock did, of course, was illegal. But Bostock insisted that Jayla’s condition was improving thanks to the cannabis oil treatments.

According to sources, Jayla was experiencing fewer seizures and even showed improvements eating and sleeping. Nevertheless, Bostock had to submit to a police investigation regarding her illegal administration of cannabis. Marijuana is a “Class-B” drug in the UK.

At the end of the process, however, Bostock gained legal permission to treat her daughter with cannabis.

How A 6-Year-Old Girl’s Life Saved by Cannabis Oil Could Change UK Law

Jayla’s case garnered extra attention in the UK press thanks to a high-profile relative. Jayla is the niece of UK soccer star Gabby Agbonlahor, who plays for Aston Villa.

And although Jayla is still in serious condition, her family hopes that the small sliver of hope cannabis oil gave them could move the needle on legalizing medical cannabis in the UK. Jayla’s family wants the National Health Service to use her case as a precedent for approving medical cannabis as a legal form of treatment.

Studies continue to attest to the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis, especially for neurological disorders. Research has shown that cannabis, especially CBD, can heal and repair damaged nerves, reduce seizure frequency and severity, and protect brain cells from some diseases.