Sunday, April 6, 2014 | 9:14 p.m. CDT
JEFFERSON CITY Although Missouri lawmakers are not clamoring to legalize marijuana, key Republican lawmakers appear ready to follow a few states in allowing use of a cannabis extract for people whose epilepsy isn't relieved by other treatments.
Legislation is advancing in the Missouri House, where a committee could hold a public hearing and vote this week. Recently filed legislation is backed by the Republican House speaker, majority leader and Democratic leaders. It also is supported by a Republican senator whose son has epilepsy.
Sponsoring Rep. Caleb Jones said lawmakers are moving quickly.
"People realize that people's lives are at stake," said Jones, R-Columbia.
About a dozen states have considered legislation seeking to allow use of cannabidiol oil for patients who have seizures. Cannabidiol, also called CBD, is a compound in cannabis but doesn't cause users to feel high.
During the past week, the South Carolina House approved a bill and Wisconsin lawmakers sent a measure to Gov. Scott Walker. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signed legislation allowing the University of Alabama at Birmingham to study the marijuana extract while giving participants legal protection from state criminal charges.
There has been particular attention on oil from the marijuana strain Charlotte's Web, bred for an epileptic patient in Colorado. It is high in CBD and has little or no psychoactive effects. There is a waiting list, and patients must live in Colorado, where marijuana is legal.
The Marijuana Policy Project said CBD oil is relatively new. The Washington-based advocacy group doesn't oppose the state efforts but says there are other health problems for which cannabis also can help.
"It's an easy sort of rallying point, but the problem is that it leaves behind the vast majority of patients who would otherwise benefit from medical marijuana," said Chris Lindsey, legislative analyst for the group.
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Missouri lawmakers mull cannabis extract as epilepsy treatment