A Colorado mom says she’s at odds with the medical establishment and specifically, her oncologist, as the mother is refusing to restart chemotherapy and choosing to treat her 3-year-old son, Landon Riddle, with cannabis instead.
According to Sierra Riddle, Landon was diagnosed with T Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in September 2012 and began chemotherapy and steroid treatments a month later. During the course of his chemotherapy, Landon suffered from neuropathy, one of the many side effects of vincristine, the most frequently used drug used in Landon’s chemo. He suffered from many other serious side effects as well.
Landon before cannabis treatment, just prior to his 3rd birthday. He had to be tube-fed for 25 days.
In January, Riddle began using cannabis to fight Landon’s leukemia and says his condition improved dramatically. He takes his treatments orally. “He uses concentrate in a capsule, made from a strain called ‘Charlotte’s Web,’ which was featured on CNN.” says Riddle to Weedist. “He also takes a concentrated high-THC oil capsule. You need both to fight leukemia.”
Charlotte’s Web is a strain of weed that’s low in THC and high in CBD. It was developed by Colorado’s largest growers and dispensary owners, the Stanley brothers. It’s named in honor of Charlotte Figi, a young girl suffering from Dravet Syndrome, a condition that causes severe seizures, who improved dramatically after being treated with the strain, as reported in Weed, Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s documentary on the medicinal benefits of cannabis.
Landon with a family friend while on chemotherapy and cannabis treatments.
In May, Riddle discontinued chemotherapy and steroid treatments for Landon and says that he’s recovering and his cancer is in remission. “Landon has had weekly blood work, spinal taps to check for cancer, and bone marrow aspirates as well,” she says. “I have all of these results. Since May, he has had monthly blood checks, still no cancer present.” She spends approximately $200 per month on Landon’s cannabis, compared to the $10,000 or more that chemo costs.
Gupta profiled Landon recently, and had this to say: “Of course many cancer therapies do make it to this step; and some say it’s too early to get excited. Landon has been off chemotherapy for three weeks..and whether or not the cannabis has actually played a role, his mother says his leukemia is currently in remission.”
Riddle’s oncologist, Dr. Lindsey Micel–a public supporter of Amendment 64–is not as convinced as Gupta. Riddle says the doctor wants Landon to resume traditional treatments at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
“You are sentencing your son to a sure death by not keeping him on the chemo and steroids for another three years,” is what Riddle says the doctor told her. According to Riddle, the doctor also threatened to report her to Child Protective Services.
Landon after stopping chemo
Despite the doctor’s stance against using cannabis to exclusively treat Landon, Riddle says she was okay with her using it in conjunction with chemo.
Weedist contacted Dr. Micel, but she did not respond to our request for comment.
A petition was started on change.org on the Riddles’ behalf, asking Governor Hickenlooper to “recognize cannabis as an effective treatment for Landon’s cancer.”
She also offered some advice for other parents: “Don’t let doctors bully you into things that are unsafe for your kids, like Oxycontin addictions. I hope that helps… I have to be brief, I’m at the hospital with Landon.”
As of this publication, she had garnered 2,589 votes, 2,411 short of her goal. For more info on Sierra and Landon, go here.
Tags: cancer, cannabinoids, children, chronic neuropathy, colorado, cps, doctors, parenting, petition, sanjay gupta.
By:
Zeke Becker. Permalink: 
Shortlink: http://weedi.st/N6DLv