The Epilepsy Foundation Eastern Pennsylvania is first and foremost a patient advocacy organization here to provide information to the public and work towards a future in which all seizures are controlled. As such, the EFEPA will answer the call of its constituents and defend the rights of patients and families to secure full access to physician directed treatment options, including medical marijuana. The EFEPA is proud to join the national Epilepsy Foundation by urging physicians, legislators and the general public to consider the potentially life changing effect new and alternative treatments can offer. 30% of individuals with epilepsy live with uncontrolled seizures and annually approximately 1 out of 1,000 people with epilepsy will die from Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP.) Medical marijuana has the potential to save their lives. As such the Foundation believes that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) should end restrictions that limit clinical trials and research into medical marijuana for epilepsy.
Read below for more information on Legislation, Medical Marijuana in the News and Research.
The EFEPA discussed Medical Marijuana in the keynote session of the 2014 Epilepsy Education Exchange. You can view the video recording below.
Advocacy and Legislation
State Medical Cannabis Legislation
On April 17, 2016 Governor Tom Wolf signed into legislation Senate Bill 3 to legalize medical marijuana for several disease states, including epilepsy. Implementing the medical marijuana program is expected to take between 18 and 24 months to complete. We will update this page as more information becomes available. For a great breakdown on the issue, visit the Governor’s page by clicking here.
In the News
April 17, 2016: Governor Wolf Signs Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Bill into Law
July 1, 2015: “Pa. Medical Marijuana Bill Appears on Fast Track“
July 1, 2015: “One Man’s Desperate Quest to cure his son’s Epilepsy”
June 29, 2015: “New Studies clouds Pa. Medical Marijuana Debate“
April 15, 2015: “Liquid Medical Marijuana Shows Promise Against Severe Epilepsy “
January 29, 2015: “Wolf Confirms his support of Medical Marijuana “
November 24, 2014: “New Study on Cannabidoil shows 50% Seizure Reduction”
September 24, 2014: “Medical Marijuana Bill Passes in PA Senate, Moves to House”
July 21, 2014: “Illinois Legalizes Medical Marijuana for Children with Seizures”
July 17, 2014: “Pennsylvania: Medical Marijuana Bill Set to Stall this Summer”
July 14, 2014: “Missouri: Nixon Signs Bill to Legalize Cannabis Extract for Some Patients”
July 10, 2014: “Utah Hospital to use Cannabis Extract to Treat Kids with Epilepsy”
July 7, 2014: “New York Becomes 23rd State to Allow Medical Marijuana”
July 3, 2014: “North Carolina Gov. McCrory Signs Legislation Allowing Hemp Oil Extract Treatment ”
June 29, 2014: “Medical Marijuana Bill out of PA. Senate Committee ”
June 20, 2014: “Charlotte Figi: The Girl Who is Changing Medical Marijuana Laws Across America”
June 16, 2014: “Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs “Charlotte’s Web” Medical Marijuana Bill”
May 3, 2014: Pennsylvania Governor Corbett Revises Position on Use of Medical Marijuana
March 10, 2014: “Medical Marijuana Refugees: “This Was Our Only Hope”‘
February 21, 2014:” Medical Marijuana: The Last Hope for Sick Children”
November 18, 2013: “Epilepsy Patients Flock to Colorado..”
August 7, 2013: “Marijuana Stops Child’s Severe Seizures”
Interested in learning more about Charlotte’s Web? Watch this brief video below:
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Research
- Mathern, G, et al. From the Editors: Cannabidiol and medical marijuana for the treatment of epilepsy. Epilepsia (2014).
- Maa, E. & Figi, P. The case for medical marijuana in epilepsy. Epilepsia (2014).
- Devinsky, O., et al. Cannabidiol: Pharmacology and potential therapeutic role in epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Epilepsia (2014).
- Institute of Medicine. Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press (1999).
- Collins, Th. Special Report: What Neurologists are Doing about Medical Marijuana. Neurology Today, 14(8): 1,28-33 (2014).
- Samson, K. AAN Systematic Review: How Effective and Safe Is Medical Marijuana for Different Neurologic Disorders?. Neurology Today,14(9): 1, 12-13 (2014).
- Jacobson, K. & Porter, B. Report of a parent survey of cannabidiol-enriched cannabis use in pediatric treatment-resistant epilepsy. Epilepsy and Behavior. 29(3): 574-577 (2013).
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The EFEPA will continue to update this platform with more information, news and research regarding medical marijuana.