A bill that would permit Kentucky universities to study and develop treatments using cannabis oil has been filed in the state Senate.
Senate Bill 124 is an effort by Republican Sen. Julie Denton to one day permit doctors to prescribe the oil to treat certain neurological disorders, including epilepsy.
Denton says the anecdotal evidence of the drug’s positive effects on children suffering from chronic seizures are too great to ignore.
“So these are children who will either die because of their seizure disorder, or they will be so developmentally disabled that they will have no quality of life," the Louisville Republican said. "So this will allow our two research hospitals, U of L and UK, to use this as a treatment for patients of those two institutions, or through an FDA clinical trial.”
The primary ingredient in the oil is a compound called cannabidiol, and contains extremely low amounts of THC, the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana.
Denton says that by avoiding broader language to include medical marijuana, the proposal has a better chance of passing in her chamber.
