STATEHOUSE (Feb. 15, 2017) – The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code advanced State Rep. Bill Friend’s (R-Macy) legislation to legalize the use of cannabidiol (CBD) oil to the House floor today with a vote of 8-0.
House Bill 1148 would allow a person to possess CBD oil if they or their child has been diagnosed with severe epilepsy, and they meet certain commonsense safety requirements. Friend said CBD oil is a compound refined from industrial hemp that has a wide scope of medical applications, including the control of epilepsy and seizures.
“The focus of this bill is to help desperate parents find effective treatment options for their children,” Friend said. “With appropriate regulations, CBD oil could be a viable substitute to medicines that could have dangerous side effects. I want families to have access to the treatment options that could provide lifesaving treatment for their child, without fear of legal repercussions.”
Friend said CBD oil, while derived from industrial hemp, has no tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, so it cannot be used as a recreational drug. CBD oil has shown documented effectiveness in helping manage the symptoms of otherwise persistent conditions of epilepsy, such as Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.
House Bill 1148 will now go to the full House for consideration. Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about this legislation.
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Rep. Bill Friend (R-Macy) represents House District 23,
which includes portions of Cass, Fulton and Miami counties.
A high-resolution photo of Friend can be downloaded by clicking here.
