Parents of Epileptic 2-Year-Old Upset Over N.J. Medical Marijuana Delays

[The Straight Story]

Parents of Epileptic 2-Year-Old Upset Over N.J. Medical Marijuana Delays

Meghan and Brian Wilson of Scotch Plains, N.J., have been waiting patiently for medical marijuana to become available for their 2-year-old daughter Vivian, “Vivie,” who suffers from a rare and severe form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome.

...

Vivie has had 20 hospitalizations in all, and sometimes her convulsions can last up to an hour. In February, the state issued Vivie a wallet-size medical marijuana card.

Gov. Chris Christie inherited the medical marijuana law three years ago and promised strict regulations. When he was asked about Vivie’s case by reporters last month, he said he was “not inclined to allow” medical marijuana for kids.

As a minor, Vivie had to get consent from three doctors. Cannabis could alleviate her seizures, and unlike barbiturates, it will not kill brain cells. However, there is only one dispensary in the state, and it will not sell to the Wilsons. They will have to wait for a dispensary in central New Jersey to receive its permit to grow marijuana.

...

Her mother said doctors in the state’s marijuana program do not seem to understand there are kids who qualify for treatment. She said she called 20 doctors before one would certify Vivie as a patient.


http://www.opposingviews.com/i/health/parents-epileptic-2-year-old-upset-over-nj-medical-marijuana-delays

[NightWatcher]

1. A 2-year old shouldn't smoke pot. There, now that's been said

Make the pot into a batch of butter and let her eat bread n butter.

Pot butter is so nice

[Skraxx]

2. I Assume She Would Eat It

I doubt very much she would be able to smoke it even if she tried, but I also doubt they would let her try.

Pot brownies for the kid should work nicely.

[RandiFan1290]

4. Only a lip strumming moron would think she will be smoking the cannabis

It can be made into a simple extract that can be consumed. No brownies or butter needed.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. A tincture absorbed sublingually is the usual method. The tincure should be low

in THC and very high in cannabidiol or CBD, the component in marijuana that halts seizures. The best treatment for seizures has no 'high' to it, as THC is the 'high making' component and it is intentionally bred out of the medicine for this use.
Examples
http://kdvr.com/2013/06/11/medicinal-marijuana-reduces-seizures-for-6-year-old-girl-improves-quality-of-life/

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/10/health/medical-marijuana-child

[NightWatcher]

7. Had not heard of that method. Very cool, thx

[RainDog]

8. thanks for the links

these poor children should not have to suffer because drug warriors depend on prohibition to earn a living.

[shanti]

9. Yes, a tincture

There was a series about the weed business on teevee a few months ago that featured a an epileptic child. He was given a tincture which seemed to be working. This was here in Cali, but there were similar issues regarding the legality of providing it to children.

[forestpath]

3. I bet if it was his own child, that fucking blowhard would be inclined to allow it!

[Trillo]

5. The hypocrisy burns: '"not inclined to allow" medical marijuana for kids'

If only folks thought that for BigPharma's drugs. Ritalin comes to mind, but I'm sure there are others.

[RainDog]

12. The kid was on 22 drugs A DAY

that did not alleviate his seizures. But left him immobile.

So, no problem with prescribing 22 drugs per day that are ineffective, but one plant that controls seizures - NO WAY!

[RainDog]

10. fwiw- 5 year follow-up study of cannabis use for pregnant women

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1957518

This research provides data on the development of 59 Jamaican children, from birth to age 5 years, whose mothers used marijuana during pregnancy. Approximately one-half of the sample used marijuana during pregnancy and were matched with non-users according to age, parity, and socioeconomic status. Testing of the children was done at 1, 3, and 30 days of age with the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scales and at ages 4 and 5 years with the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. Data about the child's home environment and temperament were collected from direct observations as well as from standardized questionnaires. The results show no significant differences in developmental testing outcomes between children of marijuana-using and non-using mothers except at 30 days of age when the babies of users had more favourable scores on two clusters of the Brazelton Scales: autonomic stability and reflexes. The developmental scores at ages 4 and 5 years were significantly correlated to certain aspects of the home environment and to regularity of basic school (preschool) attendance.

Posting this for those with questions about harm for childhood development regarding cannabis use.

While I would err on the side of caution regarding use of any substance during pregnancy, I thought this study was useful.

[In_The_Wind]

11. Thank you for posting this information.

[RainDog]

14. Marijuana Cannabis Use In Pregnancy Dr. Dreher

this is a video of Dreher's work (She's a nurse with a PhD, not a medical doctor, for the sake of clarity.) It's long - 30 minutes, from a professional conference.

Melanie Dreher is the dean of nursing at Rush Medical Center in Chicago.

here's a link to her published research.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8121737

thank you for the kind words.

[RainDog]

15. In this video, Dreher notes

that her research is routinely left out of meta studies on this issue, for no reason other than it is not "politically correct" to indicate any research that is not negative among the tenure-seeking and govt-wanting jobber/scientists.

This includes one of the people who was a consultant on her research.

the NIDA would not fund further research for her on this topic.

The reason for this is that the NIDA will not fund any research that is not negative.

That's abuse of science by a governmental bureaucracy that exists to protect certain lies.

[RainDog]

13. The dispensary that supplies Jaden has been targeted by the CA US Attn.

edit to add - Jaden's experience with epilepsy is in this link, noted above, in post 6 - http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/10/health/medical-marijuana-child

The medical marijuana dispensary that supplied Jaden's first cannabis was targeted by the DEA in 2012.

http://oaklandnorth.net/2013/04/18/after-the-raid-first-oaksterdam-then-legal-battles-for-harborside-health-center/

Harborside Health Center’s two dispensaries have served more than 100,000 patients, and after federal agents raided Oaksterdam in April, 2012, Harborside became the government’s next target that July. Melinda Haag, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, sent paperwork stating that the federal government planned to seize Harborside’s two locations, one in San Jose and one at 1840 Embarcadero in Oakland, because of their roles in distributing marijuana, which remains illegal under federal law. If successful, the forfeiture will shut down Harborside’s branch in Oakland, allowing the federal government to seize the property and bar any continuing business.

In its forfeiture complaint, the agency pointed out the magnitude of Harborside’s business and its violation of federal anti-marijuana laws, but made no claims that the clinic had actually violated California law, which permits medical marijuana with a doctor’s prescription. Still, the complaint reads, “The larger the operation, the greater the likelihood that there will be abuse of the state’s medical marijuana laws, and marijuana in the hands of individuals who do not have a demonstrated medical need.” (U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag and officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency did not return interview requests for this article seeking additional comment.)

While medical marijuana is legal in California thanks to 1996’s Proposition 215, it remains illegal under federal law, regardless of any state or local laws directing otherwise. The federal Controlled Substances Act currently classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning that it has a high potential of being abused, has no currently accepted medical use for treatment and has no accepted safety guideline for use under medical supervision. Even if a city’s government is regulating its medical marijuana industry—as Oakland does—the federal government can theoretically intervene at any time.