Pubdate: Mon, 07 Jul 2014
Source: Taranaki Daily News (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2014 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.thedailynews.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1056

FAMILY TO SPLIT FOR DAUGHTER'S SAKE

A Northland family is being torn apart in their bid to give their
six-year-old daughter cannabis oil.

Jessika and Brendan Guest moved from America to Whangarei last year
but Jessika Guest and their two children Jade, 6, and Ethan, 8, are
heading back to Colorado where they can legally source cannabis oil to
treat Jade's epilepsy.

Guest said she believed medicinal marijuana was the best option for
Jade, whose condition has worsened in recent months, leaving her
suffering more than 30 seizures a day.

Husband Brendan planned to stay behind to continue working as a truck
driver and it was unlikely the family would be reunited in New Zealand
unless medical cannabis was legalised.

"We sold everything to come over here and give our kids a Kiwi
lifestyle," Guest said.

"Our goal is hopefully to come back. Hopefully New Zealand will
legalise (cannabis oil) so that Jade and other kids can get the help
they dearly need."

She said the decision to leave at the end of July followed months of
difficult discussions.

Separating their family was their best option for giving Jade a better
chance at life, Guest said.

The cannabis oil, which is legal to use for medical purposes in
Colorado and eight other states of America, has a low level of THC -
the component that causes the "high" effect.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has rejected calls for the
Government to run a clinical trial of other medical cannabis products,
saying he had seen no new evidence that persuaded him to seek a change
to the current policy.

The New Zealand Medical Association has supported calls for a medical
cannabis trial, which has gained backing from opposition political
groups.

Labour's drug and alcohol treatment spokesman, Ian Lees-Galloway, said
legislation on medical cannabis was out of date. The Law Commission
recommended in 2011 that cannabis be legalised for pain relief and
managing symptoms of chronic illness.

Fairfax
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt