ATLANTA (March 13, 2015) | Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R – Marietta) led the passage of Senate Bill 185 through the State Senate with a vote of 54-1. This legislation creates a five-year pilot program to be conducted by the Board of Regents to study the effects of cannadbidiol (CBD) on minors with medication-resistant seizures. This legislation will also create the Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act.
“There is nothing more important to me than the well-being of all of Georgian’s children,” said Sen. Tippins. “With the passage of Senate Bill 185, our state can continue the process of studying cannadbidoil and its effect on children with medication-resistant seizures. Too often, parents are forced to travel to other states for this treatment. If enacted, we can provide this kind of care to Georgia’s children who have the most medically fragile conditions and unite families who currently live apart.
This bill creates a five-year pilot research program of CBD products that is to be designed and implemented by the Board of Regents of USG and will be conducted at several locations in Georgia. The purpose of the program is to develop rigorous data that can be used to inform and expand the scientific community’s understanding of potential treatments for individuals 21 years of age or younger with medication-resistant seizures.
“It is important to remember that this piece of legislation is in full compliance with all federal laws,” said Sen. Tippins.
Under this bill, the program is to be designed to allow for the voluntary enrollment of all persons under 21 years of age who have medication-resistant seizures to enter this study. The Board of Regents will collaborate with designated suppliers of CBD or CBD-containing products to develop a special clinical trial protocol to study the effects of treating study participants with CBD. Certificates will be given to program participants by the Board of Regents or another administrator of the identification process. This bill specifies that such certificates are to be used by participants and their parents or legal guardians as proof of authorization to possess CBD oil, while also granting them immunity from prosecution under state law.
This Act enables pediatric neurologists and their patients to participate in the state-sponsored clinical studies to determine the benefits of CBD to treat seizures disorders, including the existing clinical study with GW Pharmaceuticals at Georgia Regents University.
SB 185 will now head to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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For Immediate Release:
March 13, 2015
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
Adam Sweat, Sr. Communications Specialist
Adam.sweat@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028