Pubdate: Sun, 03 Aug 2014
Source: Sunday Mail (Australia)
Copyright: 2014 Queensland Newspapers
Contact: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/editorial/letter
Website: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sundaymail
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/435
Author: Matthew Killoran
Page: 9

LEGALISE POT FOR SICK KIDS, SAY MUMS

TWO Queensland mums have made desperate pleas to legalise marijuana to
save their children's lives, including one who is just 16 months old.

Sunshine Coast mum Sally White fears for the life of her 16-month-old
daughter Zali, who suffers from a rare genetic disease  and cannabis
could be the only option to ease her suffering.

Zali was diagnosed with Aicardi syndrome, where a part of the brain is
missing, resulting in frequent seizures. Ms White says a cannabis
strain in the US, known as Charlotte's Web, is being used to treat
children suffering from epilepsy and seizures.

She tells Channel 9's 60 Minutes tonight how the drug could stop her
daughter from enduring up to 40 seizures a day.

However, she cannot legally access the drug in Australia and is not
willing to break the law.

Brisbane mother Lanai Carter is investigating Chartlotte's Web for her
son Lindsay, whose brain tumour has left him suffering headaches,
nausea and seizures.

She is heading to the US to try to secure the controversial treatment
for her child.

Ms Carter said chemotherapy would not work on the tumour and she had
been warned surgery could aggravate the situation.

The strain of marijuana both mothers are seeking is low in THC, the
part of the drug which creates a "high".

While no movement to legalise marijuana in Australia has gained much
ground, it is a different case in the US.

There are 23 states in the US which have legalised medicinal
marijuana.

In January, Premier Campbell Newman said he had an open mind on the
subject of medicinal marijuana, but that it was not a call for the
State Government to make.
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MAP posted-by: Matt