COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Legislation to legalize a controversial treatment for children with severe epilepsy advanced Thursday in Utah, Georgia and South Carolina.
The treatment uses oil derived from marijuana. For not, it is only available in Colorado. Aaron Klepinger considers this a miracle cure: the daily dose of liquid marijuana extract, known as Charlotte's Web, given to his 8-year-old son, Hunter.
The Klepingers believe it controls seizes so severe they caused brain damage. Traditional epilepsy drugs were ineffective for Hunter. The Klepingers say that the extract has reduced the frequency of seizures from as many as 100 a day to as few as two a week.
"When he was on pharmaceuticals, he was screaming all the time or sleeping all the time or having more seizures. He's more alert and more happy than he used to be," said Dawn Klepinger, Hunter's mother.
Aaron Klepinger says a daily dose of liquid marijuana extract helps prevent his son, Hunter, from suffering severe seizures./ CBS News The Klepingers moved to Colorado, where marijuana is allowed for both recreational and medical use, from Georgia, where any use of marijuana is illegal.
"I feel horrible that a child's zip code is what determines their ability to get medicine that could potentially save their lives," Aaron Klepinger said.
Asked whether he believes the liquid marijuana extract can save Hunter's life, the father replied: "Absolutely. I think it can."
Legislators in 13 states are considering proposals to allow a version of Charlotte's Web to produced or sold legally.
The extract has a very low dose of THC, the chemical in marijuana that gives people a high. Parents believe other chemicals in the extract reduce the seizures. But there is no scientific study to prove the effectiveness and safety of Charlotte's Web to treat epilepsy.
"I think we have real reason to be concerned," said Dr. Amy Brooks-Kayal, first vice president of the American Epilepsy Society. She worries that parents are sailing into uncharted waters.
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Parents say "Charlotte's Web" pot helps kids suffering severe seizures