So Close, Yet So Far: The Kentucky Cannabis Oil Conundrum

Earlier this year, Kentucky law makers passed a bill (with incredible cooperation and speed, relatively speaking) that would allow for the first legally approved medicinal use of cannabis in the state.

A large factor in this bill’s passage was testimony from people like Rita Wooten, a Kentucky native who’s young son, Eli, has severe epilepsy. Presumably touched by this child’s plight, the Kentucky Congress rushed the bill into law.

Wooten was ecstatic. She would now be able to see if cannabis oil could assist her son’s seizures, as it had done so marvelously in the case of Colorado’s Charlotte Figi.

Elation soon turned to heartbreak with the news that, though legally approved for use, there is simply not much oil available in Kentucky. More than a simple lack of supply, which could ostensibly be solved with relative ease, the scientific process of verifying results and getting FDA approval are exceptionally long and complex. After such a sense of hope for her son, Ms. Wooten soon learned that it could take several years before Eli would be able to have reliable, consistent access to the medicine. That is like seeing the antidote to a snakebite locked in a crystal chest. You can see what you need, it’s right there, but you can’t touch it. That might lead one to madness, especially a mother who wants to see her son healthy.

To me, this seems like a good reason to relocate to Colorado or Washington. It’s a strange place to find yourself. On the one hand, I am thrilled that the local Congress acted so quickly and in a pretty conservative state, no less. But I can’t help but feel that, perhaps, there was some knowledge that the viable use of medicinal cannabis was not really going to happen soon. Many politicians are familiar with the steps needed to gain FDA approval.

Again, I just think it’s really stupid that cannabis is scheduled as it is. If we, as a nation, had our head screwed on correctly, you ought to be able to walk into any homeopathy section at your local health food store and buy a tincture of cannabis oil (like you could prior to prohibition).

I still find it just asinine that weed gets put through the same rigorous approval standards as a new pharmaceutical pill (probably more strenuous, considering the politics of Big Pharma). It’s a plant! I don’t see anyone requiring FDA approval for a new breed of Monsanto corn, which is arguably many times more dangerous than cannabis.

I hope Ms. Wooten and Eli enjoy Colorado!