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Medical Marijuana in Treating Epilepsy Moves Forward in General Assembly

Photo: David Trawin, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Virginia’s medical marijuana law may soon be expanded.  The House of Delegates has given preliminary approval to legislation that would allow the prescribed use of certain oils derived from marijuana if they are used for the treatment of epilepsy.  The legislation appears to be sailing through both chambers of the General Assembly.

Virginia law has allowed the prescribed use of medical marijuana since 1979, but it was confined to treatment of cancer and glaucoma.  Bill sponsor Delegate David Albo said there’s now evidence in other states that two specific oils can help alleviate severe epileptic symptoms.

“A person who consumes this liquid form of marijuana-it’s called CBD oil or THC-A oil, it’s a derivative of marijuana-will reduce their convulsions and seizures by about 90 percent. It works in 30 percent of the people.”

Since their use is illegal under federal law, the bill provides an affirmative defense to dismiss charges for possessing these oils if prescribed to treat intractable epilepsy. The bill faces one more House vote, but a Senate version has already passed with a single dissent.

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