Pubdate: Tue, 31 Dec 2013
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2013 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs.
Author: Susannah Bryan

INTEREST GROWS IN MEDICAL POT FOR SEIZURES

A fledgling move is afoot to legalize a lighter strain of medical
marijuana in the Sunshine State.

Two Florida representatives, Katie Edwards and Matt Gaetz, are taking
steps to help families statewide gain access to a strain of marijuana
that's shown promise in treating children who suffer from seizures.

The strain, known as Charlotte's Web and available only in Colorado,
is high in cannabidiol (CBD), which experts say can reduce and even
eliminate seizures. Charlotte's Web has a low THC content, the
component that gives users a high.

Although 21 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical
marijuana, the federal government still lists cannabis as a highly
addictive and dangerous "Schedule 1" drug, along with heroin and LSD.

A looming Florida Supreme Court decision might let voters decide in
November whether the state should legalize cannabis to treat disease.

Legalizing medical marijuana in Florida is a long shot, critics of the
proposed ballot measure say.

"As of right now, we don't even know if it's going to go before the
voters," said Edwards, D-Plantation.

The state Supreme Court has until April 1 to decide whether the
amendment will appear on the ballot. Even then, the group pushing the
measure, People United for Medical Marijuana, has to gather nearly
700,000 petition signatures by Feb. 1.

"Even if the court upholds the [ballot] language and they get the
required number of signatures and it passes, the Legislature still has
to get involved to implement the will of the voters," Edwards said.
"The bottom line is, the Legislature has to get involved at some point."

Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, says he will lead a workshop discussion
Jan. 9 on whether Florida should decriminalize certain strains of
marijuana that have no euphoric effect but have been shown to halt
seizures.

"We need to get feedback from law enforcement, prosecutors, parents
and doctors," said Gaetz, chairman of the House Criminal Justice
Subcommittee. "I'm willing to entertain the discussion, and we'll see
where it goes from there."

Edwards says lawmakers at the very least should learn more about how
Charlotte's Web could help children in Florida, as it has in Colorado.

"It's a glimmer of hope for these families," Edwards said. "They look
at something like Charlotte's Web and wonder why we can't do that in
Florida. The bottom line is that we need to allow researchers to have
access to cannabis so that they may study the strains of CBD and
develop safe and effective medications in a pill, topical or oil form."

Charlotte's Web is not smoked but turned into a liquid extract and
swallowed or administered through a feeding tube.

Edwards is galvanized by cases like that of Rebecca Hyman, who was
born with a severe genetic disorder and had her first seizure at age
3. The Weston girl, now 8, was at one point enduring up to 200
seizures a day, some lasting seven minutes or more, says her father,
Seth Hyman. She requires round-the-clock care.

Traditional medicines either didn't work or made things worse, her
parents say.  
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