Florida Passes Medical Marijuana Bill Allowing Minimal Use

Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a medical marijuana bill into law on Monday that allows limited use of the strain "Charlotte's Web" to help treat those with epileptic seizures as well as other diseases.

The Charlotte's Web strain of marijuana was named after a Colorado girl, Charlotte Figi, who suffered from frequent seizures that lasted between two and four hours and required countless hospitalizations. The disease Charlotte suffered from is called Dravet Syndrome, which is a severe form of epilepsy that cannot be medicated.

It took a few years, but finally it was discovered that a strain of marijuana low in tetrahyrdocannabinol (THC) and high in cannabidiol (CBD) could control the excessive electrical and chemical activity in the brain that causes these seizures. THC is the psychoactive compound in marijuana whereas CBD is the medicinal compound. Charlotte's mother took the suffering child to Colorado in hopes of treating her with this strain of marijuana. Now, Charlotte is given a dose of this cannabis oil twice a day and she's more alive and functional than ever.

Since then, the strain of marijuana was named after Charlotte, and it helps treat 41 other patients with similar symptoms as well as those with other forms of epilepsy. Governor Scott joined the effort to help promote certain forms of marijuana that can be effectively used as medicine. He spoke on Monday after signing the bill.

"As a father and grandfather, you never want to see kids suffer," said Governor Scott in this CBS Miami article. "The approval of Charlotte's Web will ensure that children in Florida who suffer from seizures and other debilitating illnesses will have the medication needed to improve their quality of life. I am proud to stand today with families who deserve the ability to provide their children with the best treatment available."

The bill was passed with bipartisan support, which made it easy for Governor Scott to sign because it shows it regarded an issue where people could drastically benefit from the marijuana's use. The success stories of Charlotte and other Dravet Syndrome patients also helped out the cause. Florida joined twenty other states and the District of Columbia who have laws that permit marijuana for medical use.