Senator withdraws bills to legalize hemp oil extract

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Martha Stoddard

LINCOLN — Efforts to legalize a hemp oil extract for treating Nebraskans with uncontrolled seizures will have to wait for another year.

State Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue withdrew a bill Tuesday that would have provided a narrow exemption to state marijuana laws.

She introduced Legislative Bill 1102 after hearing from the parents of an 11-year-old boy with constant uncontrolled seizures.

But she said Tuesday that she only wanted to pursue the legislation if an epilepsy specialist in the state was willing to oversee treatment with the extract, also called cannabidiol oil. The bill would have allowed use of the oil only when directed by such a specialist.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20140204/NEWS/140209448/1707#senator-withdraws-bills-to-legalize-hemp-oil-extract

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I was so happy when the news broke on this issue and it was my State Senator Crawford that introduced it.

Original LBN story: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014705861

Here is the 11 year old that will continue to suffer and risks DEATH with every seizure: http://www.omaha.com/article/20131223/LIVEWELL01/131229635#with-no-cure-for-son-s-seizures-parents-look-to-cannabis-oil

[AllyCat]

1. Did the drug companies refuse to donate to her campaign?

Really, what could be her reason?

[SoapBox]

2. Exactly.

[Omaha Steve]

4. That is NOT it! Senator Crawford is a rising star here in eastern NE politics

Her email to those like me that signed her petition.


This is a message from Senator Sue Crawford, who introduced LB 1102,
Will's Law:

Thank you for your support for Will's Law. At last check, 2,800 people signed a petition in support of moving forward on this issue in Nebraska. At this point I am unable to secure the support of the Level 4 Epilepsy Center in our state. I believe that it will harm efforts to move forward on this issue in our state to hold a hearing and have physician opposition on public record and in the media. Senator Ashford, chair of Judiciary, and a co-sponsor of the bill, has agreed to hold an interim hearing on this issue. The legal landscape of hemp production and licensure is changing rapidly and efforts are underway in other states to pass laws similar to Will's law. Senator Wallman's LB1002 seeks to legalize the possession, production, and sale of hemp in the state of Nebraska. The current Farm Bill working its way through Congress also has language to legalize low THC hemp. An interim study will provide an opportunity for supporters to share their reasons for supporting legalization of hemp oil and for Senators in Nebraska to discuss how to best move forward in Nebraska in light of changes in federal and state laws and medical research. I look forward to working with you to continue the discussion over the interim. I appreciate your engagement in this process on this important issue."

[AllyCat]

6. Good to know Steve

Just hard to fathom not supporting a treatment to save a kid's life.

[SCVDem]

3. My advice?

Get out of Nebraska!

[Bandit]

5. I thought marijuana was just legalized in Washington.

I don't get it. Why is this not legal now and shouldn't need a specialist to oversee usage.

[RainDog]

7. pass along the word about epidolex

people in Nebraska should see if their doctors can access epidolex.

http://www.epilepsyresearch.org.uk/cannabis-derived-dravet-syndrome-drug-gets-us-orphan-drug-approval/

Epidiolex, a medicine that uses cannabidiol (CBD) as an active ingredient, has been designated an orphan drug for Dravet syndrome by the US Food and Drug Administration, giving manufacturer GW Pharmaceuticals the go-ahead to run a clinical development programme next year.

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound derived from the cannabis plant. In GW Pharmaceuticals’ formulation, it is administered orally, as a liquid.

The orphan drug designation means it is recognised as a potential therapy for a condition that only affects a small number of people – in this case a rare form of paediatric epilepsy.

...GW Pharmaceuticals expects to begin a formal clinical development programme for Epidiolex in 2014. In the meantime, some US paediatric epilepsy specialists will be able to treat patients with the drug immediately thanks to seven Investigational New Drug (IND) applications granted to the firm by the FDA.