Epileptic Girl Among Those Excluded from Louisiana’s Medical Cannabis Law

Ella Hall, age 4, courtesy of the Hall family. 

The “Bible Belt,” arguably the most conservative region in
America, runs right through the heart of Louisiana. Even if Louisiana’s latest
medical cannabis bill passes, epileptic children will not be eligible within
the narrow parameter of illnesses. Michele Hall of Louisiana plans to split up
her family in order to move her daughter, Ella Grace Hall, to Colorado where
she can have access to cannabis oil. Ella, age four, currently takes six
medications for severe epilepsy that triggers anger and causes her to act erratically.

Last May, the Louisiana Senate passed Senate Bill 143
which would regulate medical cannabis. The bill covers spasticity and glaucoma,
but excludes several key categories including epilepsy and patients with
HIV/AIDS. Michele Hall isn’t going to wait for the Louisiana legislation to
catch up. Referencing her daughter, Hall told
The Advocate, “She could fall apart
today.” Hall plans on moving her daughter from their home in Vernon Parish,
Louisiana, to the recreationally legal state of Colorado.

Senator Fred Mills, (R-St. Martinville) tried passing a
similar bill in Louisiana last year. Mills encouraged voters to “Vote yes for
patients for whom this really would be a last-ditch effort.” This time, Mills
had to sacrifice even more, excluding illness. If passed, the bill will still take
at least a year to establish regulations and framework.

AIDS specialists aren’t thrilled about the bill either.
MarkAlain Dery, an AIDS specialist at the Tulane University School of Medicine
says, “I recognize that these are baby steps to eventually getting to where we
would like to be able to get medical cannabis available for all
people.” A study conducted in Louisiana State University only four years ago
confirmed the efficacy of cannabis for HIV treatment.

Hall reports she has been “begging for 10 minutes” with
Governor Bobby Jindal. “If he is in Ohio, I will fly to Ohio,” Hall said. “I
will ride in a car with him. I will fix him lunch.” Hall’s dedication mirrors
that of many parents across the U.S. who simply wish to ease their child’s
suffering and offer the best quality of life.