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US: Medical Marijuana for Kids?

Drug Policy Alliance

www.drugpolicy.org/

Thursday 07 Mar 2002

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On March 6th, CBS News show 48 Hours profiled Debbie Jefferies and her
eight-year old son Jeffery, who is being treated for severe behavioral
disorders with medical marijuana. The show told the story of how this
boy has been prescribed powerful psychotropic drugs since the age of 2,
none of which were able to control his symptoms of explosive and violent
rage. After trying combinations of 17 different prescription medicines
over a five-year span, the mother was told that her son would be taken
from her and shipped out of the state to an institution for the mentally
ill. At this point, Debbie Jefferies contacted a pediatrician who
suggested that she try marijuana cooked in a muffin.

"In about 30 minutes, Jeffery was happy, calm, glowing," says his
mother. In the eight months since, his behavior has improved, his grades
have improved, and he has been able to start therapy, something
impossible before he began marijuana treatment. "I have a son, for the
first time in our life together, I have a son who can tell me that he
loves me," told CBS News.

The program 48 Hours polled the audience, asking them to vote on-line,
answering the question "Should Debbie be allowed to keep giving her
8-year-old son medical marijuana?" According to CBS News' website, 89%
of the national audience believe that she was right to treat her son
with medical marijuana.

There is little currently known about the possible beneficial or harmful
effects about the use of marijuana to treat behavioral disorders in
children. Commenting on the implications of the CBS story and the recent
DEA crackdown on patient's cooperatives, Glenn Backes, Director of
Health Policy for the Drug Policy Alliance commented, "This is just one
case, but it does suggest that the DEA should be fast-tracking the
research instead of standing in the way."



 

 

 

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