Oklahoma Governor Announces Support For 'Medicinal' Marijuana Oil Usage

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has announced she will ask lawmakers to work with her in the next legislative session to support legalization of medicinal cannabidiol oil (CBD).

Wednesday, August 13th 2014, 10:43 am

By: News On 6

Oklahoma Governor Announces Support For 'Medicinal' Marijuana Oil Usage

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has announced she will ask lawmakers to work with her in the next legislative session to support legalization of medicinal cannabidiol oil (CBD) on a limited, medically supervised, trial-only basis, according to a news release.

CBD is a component in the cannabis (marijuana) plant. Research suggests that it may be effective to treat toddlers with rare conditions that cause seizures and strokes. CBD is an oil; it is not smoked. It is not intoxicating or used as a recreational drug.

“I do not support legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, nor do I support a broadly-defined ‘medicinal' marijuana use that makes it easy for healthy adults and teenagers to find and buy drugs," Fallin said in a statement.

“I do support allowing potentially life-saving medicine to find its way to children in need. I am very interested in allowing limited, heavily supervised use of non-intoxicating CBD to be delivered on a trial-basis to sick children in Oklahoma.”

4/10/2014 Related Story: Oklahoma Parents: Epileptic Baby Doesn't Deserve To Suffer 'Because Of Her Zip Code'

State Rep. Joe Dorman said Wednesday he was delighted when Fallin announced her support for the medicinal use of non-intoxicating CBD oil to treat children suffering from seizures and strokes.

“That is something which I previously proposed and which will be the subject of my interim legislative study, No. 14-091, which was approved last month by House Speaker Hickman,” said Dorman, D-Rush Springs. “I'm glad the governor wholeheartedly endorses this idea, and I plan to invite her to attend my interim study when it's scheduled to be presented to the House Committee on Public Health.”

Rep. Jon Echols is currently preparing to lead a legislative study examining the possibility of allowing medical trials for the use of non-intoxicating CBD oils to children affected by severe seizures, the release says.

“I am extremely interested in the findings of that study, and I look forward to working with lawmakers in both parties to pursue policies that can help sick Oklahoma children,” Fallin said.

The Speaker also approved Echols' request for interim study No. 14-063 to allow medical trials in Oklahoma for the use of non-intoxicating CBD oil for severe seizure disorders in children.

Dorman said he and Echols plan to ask several medical experts, several concerned constituents, and a specialist on medical ethics, to address their combined interim study.