Georgia Finds 'Safe, Legal Way' to Provide CBD Oil to Epileptic Children

The Georgia Legislature and Gov. Nathan Deal have made Georgia "the first state in the nation to find a safe, legal way to provide CBD oil to children who suffer seizures from severe forms of epilepsy," according to Sue Rusche, president and CEO of National Families in Action.

Some 12 to 15 states -- Florida included -- are being lobbied this year to legalize CBD oil products made in states that legalized marijuana for medical use. But few of these products have been tested for purity; none has been tested in animals to ensure they are safe to administer to humans. Rusche says certified labs that do test marijuana for contaminants are finding mold, mildew, pesticides, E. Coli, and other pathogens in it.

Georgia is the first state to reject the medical pot path and go down the research road. In addition to planned clinical trials, Georgia also may become the first state in the nation to create a statewide expanded access IND program through the Food and Drug Administration to provide a safe, legal pharmaceutical version of CBD. The Georgia bill outlines what that looks like.

"So far we have identified two tracks worthy of pursuit," Deal said. "Our most promising solution involves pairing GRU with a private pharmaceutical company that has developed a purified liquid cannabinoid currently in the FDA testing phase.

The product contains no THC, which is the component in marijuana that intoxicates a user. The university would create a well-designed trial for children with epileptic disorders, and in order to serve as many children as we can, we would like to pursue a statewide investigational new drug program through a multicenter study that would allow GRU to partner with other research facilities across the state. We have talked with the pharmaceutical company to gauge interest, and the company is willing to continue those initial talks."

Have a look at all of Gov. Deal's remarks about the bill and the future of medical marijuana in Georgia.

Georgia Regents University expressed its excitement about the clinical trials.

As the states academic health center encompassing a 154-bed childrens hospital, we have a responsibility to address the needs of families whose children are suffering," said Georgia Regents University President Ricardo Azziz. "We ... look forward to working with the state to establish clinical trials to research the benefits of treating epilepsy and other neurological conditions with cannabidiol oil.

National Families in Action, a drug prevention and policy organization, has been teaching the public about the science of addictive drugs and working to prevent their industries from targeting children since it was founded in 1977. The organization has begun a Marijuana Studies Program.