Pubdate: Fri, 28 Feb 2014
Source: Marietta Daily Journal (GA)
Copyright: 2014 The Marietta Daily Journal.
Contact:  http://www.mdjonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1904
Author: Joshua Sharpe

HOLLY SPRINGS MOM, STATE REP. HOPEFUL FOR SUCCESS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

Never in her life did Corey Lowe think her native Georgia would even
consider allowing medical marijuana, but now she's hopeful that
lawmakers have heard her pleas for a chance to help her improve her
child's life with the drug.

The Holly Springs resident said she was ecstatic Wednesday after a
bill allowing non-psychoactive cannabis oil to treat seizure patients
got unanimous approval in a state House committee and moved one step
closer to a vote on the floor.

"It is amazing," said Lowe, whose 12-year-old daughter Victoria has
had chronic seizures for nearly her whole life. "People started
hearing about it, hearing the truth that it's not medical marijuana in
the sense of marijuana recreationally. Once people educate themselves,
including lawmakers, including parents, including doctors, and they
start looking at the facts, (they open up)."

Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon), who authored House Bill 885, said he was
hopeful the House would take a vote Monday, sending the measure to the
state Senate for final approval.

"I feel optimistic," Peake said Thursday. "I think the unanimous vote
out of the committee (says) that my colleagues understand the
importance of the option for these families."

Both Peake and Lowe clarified that the oil being considered is
non-psychoactive, meaning it doesn't intoxicate the user.

Peake said the bill would allow academic medical institutions to
cultivate and administer the oil to chronic seizure patients in clinic
trials but would not require any institution to run such a trial.

"It would be managed by doctors," he added. "And it would be very
well-regulated."

Peake has in recent weeks been at the forefront of the fast-moving
push to legalize medical marijuana in the state during the 2014
legislative session, as parents like Lowe spurred the movement on.
But, like Lowe, Peake hadn't always been as supportive of the drug
until he did more research and talked to families who have seen
promising results in children with seizures.

One constituent reached out to the Macon representative after moving
to Colorado, where families from all over the country have flocked
recently to take advantage of the state's loose stance on marijuana.

Peake said when he began to speak with families like that, it was
"pretty much a 180 for me."

The Holly Springs mother says she had a similar experience after
speaking with a family from Marietta, who moved to Colorado to get
their son treatment for his seizures and saw drastic results with the
oil.

"I want that for my child without having to leave my home," Lowe said.
"All we're asking for is an option, a choice. We want that choice,
that freedom, without having to move to Colorado, because some of us
don't have the resources to move to Colorado."

Peake said parents like Lowe have helped the movement gain momentum by
reaching out to lawmakers tirelessly to express their support.

Lowe said it hasn't been easy, but many parents seem to think she's
doing the right thing.

"Families from all over Georgia are reaching out and saying, 'Thank
you for fighting for my child,'" she said. "I don't even know these
people, but they have a sick kid just as I do. And they want another
option, because we've tried all the options and they haven't worked."
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