Pubdate: Fri, 28 Mar 2014
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2014 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Allen Peake
Note: State Rep. Allen Peake is a Republican from Macon
Page: A14

NEEDING MEDICAL CANNABIS

When the 2014 General Assembly session began 10 short weeks ago, the
odds of a medical cannabis bill passing this year would have been
longer than having a perfect March Madness bracket in Vegas, because
no one was crazy enough to take that bet. State Rep. Allen Peake with
Hunter Klepinger.

But by the last day of the legislative session, the issue of
legalizing cannabidiol oil in Georgia to help children with seizure
disorders had picked up such momentum and popularity that its passage
seemed almost a certainty.

But despite the overwhelming support, the effort failed on the last
night.

Many people have asked me, what in the heck happened?

I am as frustrated as anyone that a bill to provide relief for sick
children and hope for their parents, and that had near-unanimous
support in the House and Senate, isn't now on the way to the
governor's desk. It would be easy to point fingers, and in my
frustration, the option is very tempting to call out those few who
blocked this bill, but placing blame at this point is useless.

Instead, I want to thank my many courageous colleagues in the House
and Senate whose hearts were changed and who eventually wholeheartedly
supported this effort, especially Speaker David Ralston.

Our focus from here on must remain on getting these children the help
they need, and bringing home the Georgia families who have left our
state to seek cannabidiol oil where it is legal.

Simply put, this oil is a potential life saver, and it is improving
the lives of so many already in other states where it has been legalized.

Meet three
children who have left our great state to move to Colorado:

Hunter Klepinger is 8 years old. He moved with his mom, dad and
brother from Cobb County to Colorado last November, away from loving
grandparents who were actively involved in his daily life, and started
taking cannabidiol oil right before Thanksgiving. Since then, Hunter's
seizures have decreased more than 60 percent.

He had horrible clusters of seizures, convulsing for up to 10 minutes
almost daily. Those clusters are now under 2 minutes, and the last one
was Feb. 19, over a month ago. He's calmer and happier than ever. His
life quality is drastically better.

The Klepingers desperately want to move back home to
Georgia.

Four-year-old Haleigh Cox, the inspiration behind Haleigh's Hope Act,
House Bill 885, moved to Colorado with her mom from Monroe County over
two weeks ago. She has been taking cannabidiol oil for over a week and
had just four seizures Tuesday, down from more than 200 a week ago.
She is more alert and has started smiling again.

Her mom has not seen her daughter smile since she was 2 years old.
This may seem very minor, but for a child who can only lie there and
have seizure after seizure, this is worth celebrating. The sad part
for this family is that Haleigh's mom, Janea, is in Colorado by
herself. Haleigh's dad, Brian, has to stay in Georgia to keep his job,
which means they will be separated during this critical time in
Haleigh's life. We need to bring them home.

And then there's 10-year-old Caden Clark. He still has seizures every
day and frequently enters "status epilepticus," a seizure lasting
longer than five minutes.

This last-hope treatment of medical cannabis brought his family to
Colorado. The seizures control Caden's life and, in turn, his
family's. Caden's mom and brother are now living in Colorado while
their father, a 26-year veteran with the Atlanta Police Department, is
still in Georgia, working to provide for their family.

Yes, they are separated by over 1,500 miles.

These three children are only the tip of the iceberg.

There are hundreds of families who will become medical refugees in
Colorado if we don't act. But more importantly, children will die if
we don't take action soon. There is good news, though.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced this week he will seek potential options
for an executive order that offers an immediate solution.

These families deserve that, and we must keep fighting for them.
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MAP posted-by: Matt