Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jul 2014
Source: Whangarei Leader (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2014 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/northland/whangarei-leader
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5526
Author: Josh Fagan

FIGHT FOR JADE'S HEALTH

A family is being torn apart in its bid to give a 6-year-old 
medicinal cannabis.

Jessika and Brendan Guest moved from the United States to Whangarei 
last year with their children Jade, 6, and Ethan, 8.

But Jessika is now heading back to Colorado with the children where 
they can legally source cannabis oil to treat Jade's epilepsy.

Jessika believes medicinal marijuana is the best option for Jade 
whose condition has worsened in recent months to the point where she 
has more than 30 seizures a day.

Brendan plans to stay behind to continue working as a truck driver 
and it's unlikely the family will be reunited in New Zealand unless 
medical cannabis is legalised.

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

"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."

The decision to leave at the end of July follows months of difficult 
discussions, Jessika says.

International evidence suggests young patients using just a couple of 
drops of the oil each day see a major improvement in controlling 
their symptoms.

An increasing number of parents risk fines or imprisonment for 
importing the drug and one mother who wants to remain anonymous, says 
she's grown her own plants to make cannabis oil for her teenage daughter.

Jessika says the decision to separate the family was the best option 
to give Jade a chance for a better life.

Jade's daily battle with epilepsy involved being "pumped full of 
pharmaceutical drugs" that brought significant side-effects, she says.

"They make her tired, they make her drool, they make her agitated, 
and they make her constipated. They're ruining her kidneys and her 
liver and her stomach lining.

"She's just a zombie when she's on them and she has to be on them all 
the time."

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

Jessika can't understand why it is legal in Colorado and several 
countries, including Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, the Czech 
Republic, Netherlands and Israel, but not New Zealand.

"It's very difficult knowing that the proof is out there and there is 
so much evidence of it working in other cases.

"It breaks my heart that someone could look at a child suffering and 
not give them a chance to try this drug."

The alternative is to apply for legally approved cannabis mouth spray, Sativex.

At $1000 for three small bottles, she says the price is "outrageous" 
and puts the drug out of reach.

Sativex has had partial approval in New Zealand since 2008 but is not 
registered through Pharmac and has only had 53 prescriptions 
approved, including for repeat patients.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says the pharmaceutical drug 
Epidolex - a liquid, non-psychoactive cannabinoid - may be considered 
for market use in the future, following testing in America.

But he rejects calls for the Government to run a clinical trial of 
other medical cannabis products.

"I have seen no new evidence that persuades me to seek a change to 
the current policy," Dunne says.

The New Zealand Medical Association has supported calls for a medical 
cannabis trial, which has also gained backing from opposition political groups.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom