Epilepsy Foundation of GA Supports House Bill #1 Permitting Access to Medical Marijuana for Intractable Seizures
A rally in support of House Bill#1 will be held as part of the Disability Day activities at the State Capitol on Thursday, March 5 at 11:30 am. The public is encouraged to attend. For more details, please go to www.epilepsyga.org or call (800) 527-7105.
Atlanta, GA, March 4, 2015 (Newswire.com) - There are new developments in the Georgia legislature concerning two competing bills regulating the use of medical marijuana in the state. HB1, passed overwhelmingly in the House in late February with just two dissenting votes. It now goes on to the Senate for consideration and a vote. The Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia feels that HB1 offers the best opportunity for persons with epilepsy in Georgia to have access to medical marijuana for intractable seizures. HB1 also allows that populations with other medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cancer and fibromyalgia to benefit from its’ use. Medical marijuana is an oil derivative from a specific species of marijuana plant and does not have any hallucinogenic properties.
Meanwhile in the Senate, Senate Bill 185 was introduced last week, which would strictly limit the availability of medical marijuana. Amongst the constraints in the bill is that it would be limited to only people with epilepsy who are under the age of 18, and that those who qualify could only do so through a multi-year clinical trial process that would be limited to 50-100 people.
The Epilepsy Foundation feels that SB1 is not an acceptable step forward with this critical issue. HB1 gives epilepsy patients of all ages the medical option of medical cannabis and it will bring home to Georgia many of the families who have been forced to leave Georgia in search of treatment in one of more than 20 states where it has been legalized. A recent poll done by the Atlanta Journal Constitution showed that 85 percent of those surveyed are in favor of House Bill # 1 as it is presently written.
About Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia
The Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia is a charitable non-profit, volunteer and professional organization committed to the prevention and control of epilepsy, and to helping improve the lives of people who have epilepsy. The Foundation is the state voluntary health organization dedicated to the prevention and cure of seizure disorders, the alleviation of their effects, and the promotion of independence and optimal quality of life for people who have these disorders. Through its community involvement with employers, teachers, law enforcement officials, health care professionals and individuals with epilepsy and their families, the agency is active in a broad range of programs. These programs include information and education, advocacy, support of research, job placement, camp scholarships and the delivery of specialized services.
Media Contact:
Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia contact: Pam Murphy
404-527-7155
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