Pubdate: Sat, 29 Mar 2014
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2014 The Tribune Co.
Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/
Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: William March
Page: A01
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

POT CLAIM ANGERS MOM

Deputy Visits FishHawk Woman With Ill Son

TAMPA - A FishHawk woman who believes a medical marijuana derivative 
will help save the life of her brain-damaged son is being 
investigated by authorities, apparently over a complaint that she 
gave the 12-year-old child the drug illegally.

Renee Petro, who was profiled in a Tampa Tribune story in January, 
got an unannounced visit from child abuse investigators from the 
Hillsborough County Sheriff's office Tuesday. The sheriff's office 
handles child abuse investigations for the state Department of 
Children and Families.

'I feel like this was a violation of our rights. It feels absolutely 
insulting,' Petro told the Tribune on Friday. 'I'm trying to focus on 
my child's health and getting him better, and I'm doing it in a legal 
manner.' Petro said she has been giving her son, Branden, a legal 
hemp oil 'that you can buy in any health food store,' but added, 'I 
was furious. I swear to God I have not given Branden marijuana. If I 
was going to, I would move' to a state where it's legal.

Petro has been publicly advocating to legalize a different marijuana 
derivative that doesn't contain THC, the chemical in marijuana that 
causes a euphoric high, but does contain cannabidiol, or CBD.

Some physicians believe CBD can calm seizures in children with 
Branden's form of brain damage, caused by an infection.

Petro said a sheriff's deputy came to her home Tuesday and said she 
needed to investigate an allegation that Petro was giving her son 
marijuanaillegally and failing to give him prescribed medication.

She said the deputy interviewed her and asked to interview her 
9-yearold daughter separately.

The deputy also photographed Branden, who had just recovered from a 
seizure and was sleeping, as well as the home, including the 
children's rooms and the inside of the refrigerator.

The deputy also asked to see Branden's medications, prescriptions, 
and blood test results, Petro said.

She said the deputy questioned her daughter about whether she had 
seen Branden receiving his medications.

Petro said she cooperated with all the requests but refused to allow 
drug tests of herself and Branden.

But she said the incident has caused disruption and emotional trauma 
to her family.

'My daughter thinks they're going to take her away; my son is seizing 
more because of stress, and his dad is furious, asking if he needs to 
come back home' from his military deployment, she said.

Petro's husband, Fadi Petro, is an Army colonel who works with the 
U.S. diplomatic service and has spent eight of the past 11 years in 
the Middle East. He's not allowed to say where or to talk about his work.

He normally comes home for, at most, four visits a year, he told the 
Tribune in January, and can't leave the Army because the family 
depends on Tricare, the military health-care program.

But Renee Petro said Friday that he has asked about the possibility 
of a 'compassionate deployment' back to the U.S. and has been told he 
could get one if necessary.

Meanwhile, the Morgan & Morgan law firm, whose principal John Morgan 
is backing a constitutional amendment drive to legalize the medical 
use of marijuana in Florida, has offered Petro pro bono 
representation, said Ben Pollara, manager of the amendment campaign.

In a news release, Pollara said he was outraged by the event, adding 
that it illustrates the need to pass the amendment.

'This story is sickening, but it's unfortunately not the only one,' 
Pollara said. 'Across the state, there are people who feel persecuted 
simply for wanting to give their loved ones the best care available.' 
Petro said she believes the home health agency that provides 
Branden's in-home nurse reported her to the state Department of 
Children and Families child abuse hotline.

A DCF spokeswoman said she couldn't confirm or deny a pending child 
abuse investigation involving the family.

Hillsborough Sheriff's Office spokesman LarryMcKinnon said the office 
couldn't comment on any specific investigation, but added, 'Any child 
abuse case that comes before us will be thoroughly investigated, both 
for the protection of the child and the accused.'

Petro's account of Branden's illness is heartrending.

He was once a bright, happy child - a forward on the school soccer 
team who studied Hebrew and Arabic. He wanted to be president and 
liked to flirt with girls.

When the family was on a visit to her ancestral home in the Middle 
East, Branden, then 8, was stricken by a sudden, devastating 
infection that left him comatose. He emerged from the coma with 
severe brain damage and had to learn to walk and talk again.

He was left with a form of epilepsy including frequent seizures, 
severe learning disabilities, suicidal depression, aggressiveness and 
withdrawal.

Renee Petro said his frequent seizures sometimes leave him partially 
paralyzed and with difficulty breathing. She fears the seizures could 
kill him or that he'll harm himself.

'I just want my son back,' she said.

In January, she went to Tallahassee to testify before a legislative 
committee on legalizing a marijuana derivative called 'Charlotte's 
Web,' high in CBD but low in THC. It was named for a Colorado child 
who experienced an alleviation of seizures similar to Branden's seizures.

Legislation to allow use of certain kinds of marijuana is moving in 
the state Legislature, sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Orange Park, 
and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach.

The House and Senate bills have both passed committee stops with few 
'no' votes.

'I've been advocating for medical marijuana, but I've been doing it 
in a legal manner so we don't end up where we are right now,' Petro 
said. 'I'm trying to go thourgh the system, through the laws, so we 
don't have to uproot and move. I feel like by advocating and speaking 
up, people want to seize on that.

'I'm disgusted with our system and how they treat people.'

Tribune staff writer James Rosica contributed to this report.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom