A federal judge ruling that allows an 11-year-old suffering from leukemia to use medicinal marijuana to treat her illness has ignited a debate about the future of medical marijuana across the nation.
The parents of 11-year-old Ashley Surin, who was diagnosed with the disease in late 2008, had sued Schaumburg School District 54 claiming that their refusal to allow their child to take medical marijuana at school violated both the Americans with Disabilities Act and “due process.”
On Friday, a federal judge backed them up, according to WGN.
The ruling will allow Surin, whose treatments for the seizures that accompany her chemotherapy have included a combination of medicines, diet, a medical marijuana foot patch and rubbing oil, to continue those treatments at school.
And the foot patch is apparently an integral part of her treatment.
“She can think better, walk better, talk better. Her brain used to be like in a cloud,” Maureen Surin, the girl’s mother, told media. “And now she can think clearer and she’s more alert. She can interact, and can go back to school and learn and not be in a cloud.”
Previously, Hanover Highlands Elementary officials had refused the family’s request to store the medical marijuana on school grounds in case it was needed, citing a state law that prohibits the substance on school grounds or buses.
“All we wanted was for her to be back in school with her friends on her diet, on her medicine and just go on with her 11-year-old life, and that’s why we’re here,” said Surin, whose daughter has been out of school for two weeks.
Now, thanks to the federal judge ruling and an agreement by the Illinois Attorney General not to prosecute, Ashley is expected to be back in school with the ability for staff to administer the medicine consequence free.
“Both state and Federal law prohibit the possession or use of cannabis in any form on school grounds or on school buses – and it’s not reasonable to think – with the advances in medication that we can’t serve children with medications as they develop over time,” school district attorney Darcy Kriha said.
“This (will) not just help her, I hope, but it’s going to help other kids down the road who need to take cannabis at school for another disease that they need to reverse or treat. It’s not a drug. It’s a medicine,” Surin said.
Could the ruling, the first of its kind, be a trendsetter for other school districts across the nation? Twitter reaction was strong with this one.
Parents don’t want to give up their stash.
— Billy McCoy (@B24Coach) January 12, 2018
It’s the only thing that stops this child’s seizures (with NO side effects)! It does not get you high! What is wrong with some of you? You sound like reefer madness bots.
— WokeChicken (@AwareChicken) January 13, 2018
And we wonder why our kids are so screwed up.
— Bobbie Borders Glackin (@Swtsmtn) January 12, 2018
Ridiculous parents
— Trump A Team ??? (@trumpATeam) January 12, 2018
Why? The 11 year old has leukemia and it stops her seizures.
— @MariHadALilLamb (@mgsult) January 12, 2018
Why wouldn’t they treat it like any other medication.Give it to the school nurse to administer. So simple.
— 2Cool4U (@chevy88rules) January 12, 2018
Holy s! We have to send baby aspirin & vitamin C to the nurses office to “dose” our children when they have a cold & these new-news want them walking around with pot to give to other children w/o permission! We need to build @ 50,000 more insane asylums in this country quick!
— DAC359 (@DAC3591) January 12, 2018
Why can’t they use the medical marijuana before school
— karen brusca (@northcapdiva) January 12, 2018
let’s sue these parents if they win. I don’t want drugs on my kids schools campus.
— jawzone (@jawzone) January 12, 2018
You currently have drugs on campus. Children take medications all the time. This little girl needs it for her seizures.
— @MariHadALilLamb (@mgsult) January 12, 2018
The article says “Medical Merijuana” they are suing to have their child take a medication. Like many other children’s parents do to take any type of medication at their schools.
— @MariHadALilLamb (@mgsult) January 12, 2018
then fine….
— jawzone (@jawzone) January 12, 2018
Finally, the girl’s uncle, “conservatarian” podcaster Mike Opelka, penned a moving insider piece about his niece’s struggle to “use medical marijuana in grammar school.” It’s worth the read.
https://twitter.com/stuntbrain/status/952231564196417536
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