Pubdate: Sun, 02 Feb 2014
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN)
Copyright: 2014 Chattanooga Publishing Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.timesfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/992
Author: Andy Sher

REP. MIKE CARTER LOOKING AT LIMITED TENNESSEE MEDICAL CANNABIS BILL

NASHVILLE - State Rep. Mike Carter said he is continuing to explore
introducing legislation amending Tennessee's strict anti-marijuana
laws to allow possession of a cannabis-derived oil seemingly effective
in treating a rare form of epilepsy.

"I am considering and looking at filing a bill that allows a parent to
have cannabidiol oils in their possession for the use with a person of
intractable seizures as determined by a doctor," the Ooltewah
Republican and former judge said. "And you can't get high on it."

Top House Republican leaders say they're open to considering such a
bill.

The lawmaker opposes a more comprehensive medical marijuana law
introduced by Democratic state Rep. Sherry Jones, of Nashville.

"This is not medical marijuana," Carter said of his
approach.

Cannabidiol oil comes from specially cross-bred marijuana plants that
advocates say contain only minuscule amounts of the psychoactive
ingredient THC, which delivers the plant's "high."

The cannabidiol is produced in Colorado, where medical marijuana is
legal, and distributed at low cost by the Colorado-based nonprofit
group Realm of Caring. But Carter said there is a problem: It still
runs afoul of federal laws that prohibit cannabis products from
crossing state lines.

Carter said he might introduce a separate resolution urging President
Barack Obama to allow interstate transport of low-THC cannabidiol.
Whether that will move the president is anyone's guess, he said.

The local lawmaker said he has been moved by the plight of 2-year-old
Piper Koozer, formerly of Ooltewah.

The toddler suffers from Aicardi syndrome and was having 200 to 300
seizures daily. Her desperate parents, Justin and Annie Koozer, moved
the family to Denver last year to get access to cannabidiol.

The Koozers say it's reduced Piper's seizures to a fraction of what
they were. Other parents whose children have similar epilepsy-related
problems swear by it as well.

Carter said he has spoken with Joel Stanley, one of six Colorado
brothers who have cross-bed pot to diminish the highs and boost its
effectiveness in easing seizures, migraines and other ailments.

The Stanleys started Realm of Caring. Carter said Joel Stanley told
him they're testing industrial hemp plants. He said Stanley told him
it's possible to export hemp-derived oils across state lines without
violating federal law.

House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada, of Franklin, said
several Middle Tennessee parents have children with seizure problems
and he's open to taking a look at Carter's approach.

But don't confuse that with support of a broader medical marijuana
bill, Casada said.

"There's other drugs for pain relief and vomiting and those things,"
Casada said. "For this (certain types of seizures) this is the only
drug that works. It's worth exploring."

Twenty states and the District of Columbia currently have some variant
of laws permitting medical marijuana.

House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, said she's talked to a
"number of constituents" and others supporting Jones' bill, but she's
worried it covers too many conditions.

"I'm a little concerned that the number of diseases that she's looking
at this being applied to may be too broad as we start out on this,"
Harwell said.
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