State Assembly passes medical marijuana oil bill

WEST ALLIS (WITI) -- Several Wisconsin parents are lobbying the Senate to take up another bill that cleared the Assembly earlier this week that would legalize the medical use of CBD oil.

The oil comes from marijuana plants and supporters say it can help children with epilepsy.

Kari Krause says doctors gave her daughter, Haily, less than five years to live after she was born. Haily is now 18-years-old, but still has seizures every day.

"Nothing has ever worked. We started on medications after medications after medications. I mean, I can't even tell you how many," said Krause.

Michelle Schultz says she would love to see her 2-year-old son, Tristian turn 18. The boy suffers from around 60 seizures per day. Several times they've been so severe, he stopped breathing.

"When you see him laying there and they're working on him it's like 'okay, today is the day.' But I know that if Wisconsin would pass this, and he would get it, he would as least have a life," said Schultz.

Earlier this week, the State Assembly passed a bill that would legalize the use of CBD oil. The substance is extracted from a specific strain of marijuana plant, bred to have little to no THC -- the ingredient in marijuana that gives a high.

It's already legal in Colorado. Schultz is on a waiting list there.

Opponents initially said the treatment should first have FDA approval. The Assembly bill has since been amended.

In order for CBD oil to be dispensed in Wisconsin, the FDA will first need to issue and "investigative drug permit."

"I don't think any of us are saying it's going to work. We don't know if it's going to work, but we want that chance. That's all we want," said Krause.

Similar bills have advanced this month in Utah, Georgia and South Carolina.

The Wisconsin Medical Society in Madison initially had concerns about this bill, but now supports it. It says the FDA requirement, which was added as an amendment, ensures lawmakers aren't getting out in front of current research.