"Charlotte's Web" for Epilepsy Patients

Federal Bill Could Legalize Medical Hemp 

Thousands of families are on a waiting list and hundreds have already moved to Colorado for a special strain of medical marijuana oil from Colorado Springs called Charlotte's Web. The oil, so low in THC that it's classified as hemp, doesn't get children high but appears to be very effective in treating severe seizures and epilepsy.

A new federal bill, called "Charlotte's Web Hemp Act 2014," is being proposed to decriminalize hemp and a medicinal component of marijuana called Cannabidiol, or CBD. The new law would remove hemp and CBD from the list of schedule one controlled substances, making the non-psychoactive plant legal in all states.

This could be the break Liz Gorman and thousands of other parents have been waiting for. When Gorman brought her seven-year-old daughter, Maddie, to Colorado, she was having between 80 and 100 seizures a day and functioning on a one year old level.

"We tried 14 medications and then a brain surgery and failed all of those things," said Gorman.

Her husband is active duty military and couldn't move with her from North Carolina when she came to Colorado Springs to try Charlotte's Web for Maddie.

"Most people don't realize how devastating and catastrophic certain epilepsies can be, the fact that so many of us have moved here shows just how desperate we are for medications that could potentially help our children," she explained.

Gorman said the medical hemp oil worked almost immediately for Maddie. She saw an 80% reduction in seizures and Gorman said Maddie is learning, sleeps better and is generally happier.

"It feels like a miracle compared to any other treatment we've ever tried," said Gorman.

Gorman can't leave Colorado, but if the Charlotte's Web Medical Hemp Act were to pass, she could go home and reunite her family.

"Instead of families having to uproot their families and relocate here and leave their support system, we would be able to ship it directly to them," said Heather Jackson, Co-Founder and National Executive Director of the Realm of Caring.

Realm of Caring is the Colorado Springs non-profit that helps families like Gorman's. The Realm has more than 200 patients currently on Charlotte's Web, with thousands more waiting to get it.

"We have people who are waiting for this and they are dying while they wait and that is just completely unacceptable," said Jackson.

Jackson knows what it's like to almost lose a child to seizures. Her son, Zaki, spent nine years suffering from debilitating seizures.

"I know what it feels like to hold your child and their fingertips are turning blue and their lips are blue," said described.

Zaki is now 11 and seizure free for almost two years thanks to Charlotte's Web. Jackson wants the same outcome for other families who are suffering.

"If you want access to this you should be able to have access to this," said Jackson.

The bill has been introduced in the House, but still has a ways to go before it would voted on by lawmakers.

There's little research right now on the use of hemp and marijuana component CBD to treat seizures. However, a clinical trial was just approved to study Charlotte's Web at the University of Colorado, Denver. The study is being called a first of its kind and will recruit patients already taking Charlotte's Web. Results aren't expected until at least 2016.

For more information on the bill, Realm of Caring, and how to get involved, click here.

TJOC: News found on the internet from KOAA5 (KOAA.com). A good read! Lets get this bill passed!