Bill allowing limited use of cannabis oil advances

A bill that seeks to allow children with severe epilepsy to legally use oil derived from marijuana has advanced to the Senate floor in the South Carolina Statehouse, but it's so restrictive, supporters say it won't help those for whom it's written.

The Senate Medical Affairs Committee approved Thursday allowing use of cannabidiol, or CBD oil, but only as part of clinical trials testing federally approved drugs.

The bill would amend the definition of marijuana, adding that the CBD oil could be used by people with severe forms of epilepsy. This oil has almost none of the mind-altering substance found in marijuana.

Sen. Tom Davis said he wanted to allow wider use of CBD oil to control seizures. Davis, (R) Beaufort, sponsored the bill after hearing from a constituent, Harriett Hilton of Beaufort, whose granddaughter has a severe form of epilepsy. She has up to 100 seizures an hour and with conventional medication, that can be reduced to 20-30 seizures an hour, which is still debilitating. CBD oil can provide relief.

But the South Carolina Medical Association and State Law Enforcement Division raised concerns about purity of oils not controlled by the Food and Drug Administration, and he knew the bill stood no chance with their opposition.

 Two FDA trials of CBD oil are going on now. The preliminary evidence on it is very positive that the CBD oil will greatly reduce the number of seizures, but Hilton says clinics trials are extremely limited and won't help her granddaughter.