COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - People suffering from severe epilepsy could legally use oil derived from marijuana under a bill advanced Thursday in the South Carolina House.
The bill backed by Republicans decriminalizes cannabidiol, also known as CBD oil, if a patient has a doctors prescription or is participating in a clinical trial for treating severe forms of epilepsy. It also aims to protect doctors from being arrested or sued for prescribing or providing the oil in limited circumstances.
Rep. Jenny Horne, R-Summerville, said she named her bill Julians Act for a 3-year-old constituent who suffers dozens of seizures daily and whose family is moving to Colorado to access the potentially life-changing liquid treatment. Her subcommittee advanced the bill to the full Judiciary Committee.
The Legislatures only ER doctor, Rep. Kris Crawford, stressed the bill would do nothing for those who want to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes, but it could help people suffering with extreme forms of epilepsy.
Its important to draw a distinction, said Crawford, R-Florence, adding that cannabis oil shows some promise toward helping people live normal lives.
The Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug status for Epidiolex, an oral, liquid form of CBD, for use in rare and severe childhood forms of epilepsy. The designation provides incentives for drugs that treat rare diseases. The second phase of a clinical trial is expected to start later this year.
The narrowly drawn legislation is considered a baby step toward allowing medical uses of marijuana. But some supporters worry the legislation is so limited, it may not even practically help the epilepsy patients for whom its written.
In South Carolina, 104,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy, and 2,100 new cases are diagnosed yearly, said Karen St. Marie, founder of South Carolina Advocates for Epilepsy.
Harriett Hilton, of Beaufort, asked legislators to broaden the bill to other monitored, consistent sources of CBD oil, to provide the needed access. Her 6-year-old granddaughter still suffers up to 100 seizures an hour, despite taking many medications.
St. Maries 26-year-old son was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2007. He still suffers seizures despite taking more than 16 medications, participating in a clinical trial and undergoing surgery.
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SC bill allows cannabis oil for epilepsy treatment