A bill that would allow minors to be prescribed medical marijuana now heads to the state senate for a vote.
The legislation would allow minors who have a debilitating medical condition, like epilepsy, to use medical marijuana, but only with parental consent and the approval of two doctors: the minor's primary care physician, and a specialist who is treating the minor's disorder.
In a recently approved amendment to the bill, eligible minors can only be prescribed medical marijuana oil.
Currently, Maine is the only state in New England that allows children to be prescribed marijuana.
"My youngest daughter and I are currently marijuana refugees from Connecticut, in the state of Maine," said Montville resident Susan Meehan. Susan's 12-year-old daughter, Cyndimae, suffers from Dravet Syndrome, a rare from of epilepsy, and in Maine, she can legally use marijuana to control her seizures. "She is thriving using medical marijuana to control nearly all of her seizures," said Meehan. "It's a miracle for her."
The rest of the Meehan family still lives in Connecticut, but Susan and Cyndimae could return to the state for good if the proposed expanded medical marijuana bill becomes law.
The measure has bi-partisan support, but there are lawmakers who oppose the bill.
"Given the negative effects of marijuana on brain development and cognitive performance, the American Academy of Pediatrics do not support this legislation," said Republican State Senator Kevin Witkos. "I will defer to their expertise in this matter."
The American Academy of Pediatrics does oppose the measure, but the Connecticut Chapter cautiously supports it, under certain conditions. "Those conditions are terminal illnesses, there are children who have tens of hundreds of seizures a day, and some people are feeling that medical marijuana may help those children," said Jillian Wood, executive director of the AAP's Connecticut Chapter. "So we can't make those parents and those children criminals."
The proposal is now back on the Senate Calendar, but it's unclear whether the bill will come up for a vote before the end of the legislative session on June 3.
