Pubdate: Fri, 10 Jan 2014
Source: Tampa Bay Times ( FL )
Copyright: 2014 St.  Petersburg Times
Contact: http://www.sptimes.com/letters/
Website: http://www.tampabay.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Note: Named the St.  Petersburg Times from 1884 2011.
Page: Front page

PARENTS ASK FOR LEGAL POT USE

A State Legislator Says He Will File A Bill For Sick Children Who Are 
Helped By The Drug

TALLAHASSEE - Hope came Thursday for families whose chilA-dren suffer 
from epileptic seiA-zures, as the chairman of a key legislative 
committee agreed to file a bill to legalize the medical use of 
marijuana that has a high content of the chemical comA-pound cannabidiol.

'Our work is only beginning,' said Rep.  Matt Gaetz, R-ShaliA-mar, 
after the House CrimiA-nal Justice Subcommittee heard testimoA-ny for 
nearly two hours from parents of children from Miami, Weston, Tampa, 
Pensacola and even ColoA-rado.

The families pleaded with lawA-makers to legalize strains of 
marA-ijuana such as 'Charlotte's Web' saying it is their last, best 
hope of relieving the uncontrollable seizures in their medically 
fragA-ile children.  The strain is high in cannabidiol or CBD, the 
ingreA-dient that controls seizures, but is low in 
tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, the compound that creates a high.

They spoke of the anecdotal evidence that children treated in 
Colorado have had their seizures reduced by half or more.  They cited 
studies that show that cannabis with a high cannabidiol content has 
no side effects and is not addictive.  And they spoke of being faced 
with the decision of leaving Florida to get treatment for their child.

'I am going to ask Speaker Weatherford to approve a proposed 
committee bill that will contain this language for Char lotte's Web,' 
Gaetz announced at the conclusion of the meeting, 'so that these 
people do not have to be criminals.' It was a remarkable admission 
for a legislator who opposes the use of medical marijuana and was so 
wary about scheduling a workshop on the subject that he tucked it 
into an agenda on sen tencing reform.

But a combination of the compelling family stories, and Gaetz's 
aggressive attack on every doubt raised, left the committee with few 
reasons to oppose it.

'I'm moved by the compassion of all of this,' said Rep.  Charles Van 
Zant, a Palatka Republican who is a Baptist preacher and one of the 
most conservative members of the Legislature.

He opposes marijuana, he said, but when it comes to harnessing the 
herb to treat a specific malady, 'I don't think this is substance 
abuse.  I think it's using this wisely.' Gaetz opened the meeting 
with a partial showing of a CNN special report by Dr.  Sanjay Gupta, 
Weed, which introduced the nation to the story of Charlotte Figi, who 
suffers from Dravet syndrome, a rare and intractable form of epilepsy.

Charlotte's mother, Paige Figi, told the committee that after two 
years of being treated with oil from the Charlotte's Web strain, her 
daughter's seizures have gone from hundreds to about one a 
week.  Charlotte, whose illness had delayed her development, is now 
walking and talking and is able to ride a bike.

'There were nights where I begged for her to pass away from this 
suffering because it was so awful,' Figi said.  Now, 'she has a happy 
quality of life.  She's not going to ever drive a car, get married or 
live independently' but 'she's a kid again.' Gaetz said he, too, was 
a skeptic but compared the strain and its trace amounts of the 
psychoactive THC to the hemp products that line the shelves of the 
local Whole Foods store.

Rep.  Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, was among the most vocally skeptical 
of the 14-member committee.  Harrell's husband is a physician, and 
she is a long-time supporter of the Florida Medical Association.

'What pre-clinical trials have shown the efficacy of this drug?' she asked.

Figi responded that scientific trials are under way in Colorado but, 
because marijuana is still classified as an illegal narcotic in many 
states, 'the road blocks are almost nearly impossible.  A We are 
asking for help to do more research.' Several families urged the 
committee not to wait the years it will take to conduct clinical trials.

'Rep.  Harrell, we don't have a year,' said Seth Hyman of Weston, who 
brought his 8-yearold daughter, Rebecca, who suffers from a rare 
genetic disorder, to the meeting.  'She may not be here.' Jacel 
Delgadillo of Miami said she is considering leaving her extended 
family and moving to Colorado, where marijuana use is legal, so she 
can get help for her 2-year-old son, Bruno, who suffers from Dravet syndrome.

'Every night I hold his hand praying: Please don't be the night for 
him to gain his wings,' she said, her sleeping son on her shoulder.

But the political realities of passing a bill that legalizes 
something as taboo as marijuana faces some harsh realities in 
Tallahassee, where legislative leaders, the governor and attorney 
general have come out in opposition of a ballot initiative to 
legalize marijuana for medical use and are challenging it in court.

When asked about allowing parents of children who have seizures to 
have access to a special strain of medical marijuana, Gov.  Rick 
Scott shut the door.

'I oppose illegal drug abuse,' he told the Tampa Bay Times on 
Wednesday.  'I've watched what it does to families.  I think the 
attorney general has done the right thing with the advice she gave 
the Supreme Court.  Have a great day!'  
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