Dravet Syndrome
Compassionate Christie No More?
The bumps in the road for New Jersey’s medical marijuana program have been well documented. The program was initially approved by exiting Governor Corzine on his last day in office four years ago. Current Governor Chris Christie was never a fan of medical marijuana and tried every strategy at his disposal to delay the start of the program.
In the last year however, it seemed Governor Christie was softening his stance and attempting to get himself in line with the views of the rest of the country. He vowed to stay out of the way of the laws and New Jersey finally had a dispensary open in Montclair about a year ago. Although there are very strict parameters set to qualify for medical marijuana, the Garden State appeared to be on the right track. Over the summer, New Jersey residents Meghan and Brian Wilson brought a new medical marijuana discussion to the state. Their daughter suffers from Dravet Syndrome, a rare but extreme form of epilepsy. As many parents are finding out across the country, marijuana is emerging as one of the most reliable treatments for the condition as traditional medications provide many side effects and do not eliminate the seizures effectively.
A few months back, Governor Christie approved some legislative changes to the medical marijuana program after a public confrontation in a diner where the Wilson’s begged the governor to help their daughter survive. These changes now permit the Wilson’s daughter to receive treatment with cannabis. Unfortunately the strains and necessary information the Wilson’s need are not currently available in New Jersey. They are now pushing the New Jersey legislature to pass a new bill that would allow them to get the necessary medication they need out of state. This has angered Christie, who has reverted back to his more rigid anti medical marijuana stance. In regards to the new bill Governor Christie resorted to what sounded like bully tactics. In what seems to be an oversimplification, the Governor said “See this is what happens. Every time you sign one expansion, then the advocates will come back and ask for another one. Here’s what the advocates want, they want legalization of marijuana in New Jersey. It will not happen on my watch, ever. I am done expanding the medical marijuana program under any circumstances. So we’re done.”
The Wilson’s may see it a bit differently as their daughter’s quality of life is on the line. They do not see themselves as an engine to push legalization. Brian Wilson responded to Governor by saying “There’s no outpouring of people signing up for this program’ because who wants to spend $200 on sign-up fees plus the countless doctors fees, not covered by insurance, to participate in a program that cannot serve the current client base?” Medical marijuana may be a difficult political issue for the conservative Christie as he already has a problem with the Republican base for being too liberal. Unfortunately, on his way to a White House bid the Governor may be alienating everyone as few people are against medical marijuana these days.
Sick Children Finding Relief with Marijuana
It’s been an eventful week for marijuana updates. We already discovered another new study that highlights ale cannabis to battle cancer cells. There are also updates on child patients looking for medicinal marijuana.
In Arizona, you will find no age limitations in being approved for legal medicinal marijuana use. However, you will find strict rules regarding the meaning of cannabis. Under Arizona law, any combination of created using dried marijuana flowers is suitable. Jacob and Jennifer Welton’s boy needs medical cannabis. The boy’s parents crush marijuana into applesauce for him to consume. Regrettably, after nuclear physics this past year, his capability to eat has bee reduced. Consequently, the Welton’s are trying to find marijuana extract, which may be given far simpler, sometimes in droplet form. However, extracts are illegal and Maricopa County attorney, Bill Montgomery has formerly stated patients could be criminally punished for implementing extracts as they do not satisfy the strict meaning of “cannabis” in Arizona. The Welton’s don’t want to go to the underground community to be able to obtain relief for his or her boy. “We’re not crooks,” Ms. Welton lately stated. “We simply want what’s perfect for our boy.” They are attempting to bring awareness for their situation to be able to alter the strict meaning of marijuana in Arizona.
 
The Welton’s might find inspiration in the Wilson family in Nj. Following a lengthy and public fight, which incorporated a plea from John Wilson to Governor Christie in a diner to make certain his daughter didn’t die, New Jersey congress removed the majority of the obstacles stopping children from being able to access medicinal marijuana. The Wilson’s daughter, Vivian, is affected with an uncommon and debilitating from of epilepsy known as dravet syndrome. Her seizures are intense and many traditional medications have produced virtually no results. Limits around the strains allowed available were removed, and today the Wilson’s can buy strains which are effective against epilepsy. However, food items continue to be unavailable at shops, so Vivian’s parents need to prepare the cannabis and infuse it into food. Now the Wilson’s were finally in a position to legally buy the medicinal marijuana they require from Compassionate Care Foundation.
The thought of children medicating was but still is taboo in lots of circles. However, the thought of watching children suffer when treatments can be found has become the growing taboo. Epilepsy can devastate a child’s quality of existence, and it’s important to supply kids with every opportunity to live a proper and normal existence.
Update on Medical Marijuana Issues in Michigan
While the coastal areas of New York and California have dominated marijuana reform news lately, we would like to turn our attention today toward the middle of the country. Michigan approved medical marijuana legislation in 2008 and though Attorney General Bill Schuette has sought to bring an end to the program, advocates have rallied to ensure patient safety.
There was a major landmark court decision issued recently by the Michigan Supreme Court. In a unanimous decision the court upheld a voter approved statute that would protect patients even if they have not applied for a medical marijuana card. However, they would need a previous recommendation from a physician. The current decision stems from lower cases where individuals were arrested for marijuana possession but should have been protected under the voter approved law. Karen O’Keefe, an attorney with the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) was pleased with the victory. MPP sponsored the initiative to get Michigan’s medical marijuana program passed. Ms. O’Keefe did urge patients to register in order to avoid the stress of being arrested and any legal fees associated with it. However, the victory is huge and patients can seek relief quicker as they can get their recommendation and start medicating as they wait on their paperwork to be processed.
Another interesting development in Michigan has to do with the medical marijuana program’s inclusion of 44 minors under the age of 18. For many this is controversial at best, and maybe even downright wrong. However, we must ask ourselves if there would be any attention paid to these children if they were taking highly addictive opiates in order to combat pain. The Detroit Free Press recently ran an article that focuses on Cooper Brown, a 14 year old who is a Michigan cardholder and uses marijuana to relieve complications associated with Dravet Syndrome (a severe form of epilepsy that is untraceable and begins in infancy). Cooper’s mother, Rebecca Brown, says that his seizures have drastically reduced since he began using marijuana. In line with the growing trend, Rebecca relies on laboratories to select strains that are low in THC and high CBD (the cannabinoid associated with pain relief without feeling “stoned”). She does not permit him to smoke it and, instead, prepares it in his food.
Rebecca and Cooper highlight just how desperate the need for medical marijuana regulation is. Though Rebecca seems capable of selecting her son’s medicine, there should be much more information and professional recommendations available. The time for simply dismissing marijuana as taboo is not a luxury Rebecca Brown can afford. Her son needs help and a lack of information on the subject is simply unacceptable. Thankfully they live in Michigan where the Supreme Court’s decision and Cooper’s situation show that patients are still a high priority.