Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Trenton - At 17, Genny Barbour is a state and national medical pot pioneer.
Her family's fight to control her severe seizures with this unconventional medicine convinced Gov. Chris Christie in November that some children are so sick, they need edible marijuana during the school day. New Jersey was the first state in the nation to allow marijuana on school grounds.
But despite the Barbour family's success in passing a law requiring every school district in the state to adopt an edible cannabis policy, Genny's has yet to benefit from that effort.
"We are at a standstill," Lora Barbour, Genny's mother, said with an exasperated sigh. The Barbours thought they could finally start sending their daughter to full-day sessions at the Larc School in Bellmawr, Camden County, after cutting back in order for her to consume a lunchtime dose of cannabis oil mixed with soda.
"I'm starting to feel a little bit bitter, and I really don't want to be like that," she said. "It's a cause that needs to be fought."
The problem is twofold. Genny's epilepsy can be trumped by her other diagnosis: autism. And the original medical marijuana law enacted in 2010 has created an unforeseen barrier to Genny getting the edible oil as often as she appears to need it, according to her parents, Roger and Lora Barbour from Maple Shade in Burlington County.
The law allows only Genny's registered caregiver to administer the edible marijuana. But a midday visit from mom toting the marijuana oil to keep the seizures under control is likely to trigger a tantrum and unravel the remainder of her daughter's school day, Lora Barbour said.
One of the features of autism, a developmental disorder that impairs a person's ability to learn and communicate, "is repetitive behavior and an insistence on routines and rituals," said Suzanne Buchanan, executive director of the family advocacy group Autism New Jersey, who has no involvement in Genny Barbour's case. "Some are more affected by it than others. It also depends how they are feeling and sleeping."
Genny has been known to try to injure herself when she is frustrated or upset, her parents say.
The Barbours asked the state Health Department, which operates the medicinal marijuana program and the Attorney General Office whether they would allow the school nurse or an employee at the nearby marijuana dispensary to give their daughter a few drops of oil mixed in a small glass of soda. State officials said no.
The Barbours have asked their local legislators to change the law again to allow a caregiver designed by a parent to administer the medicine. Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden) introduced the bill on June 2.
"The new bill is perfect," Roger Barbour said. "It will do exactly what parents with sick kids need. If passed, we can proceed as we planned, with an employee from the dispensary giving Genny her daily medicine."
The Barbours said the law unfairly assumes a parent can leave work and drive to school every day to administer a child's medicine – a burden not felt by parents with children who take prescription drugs handled by the school nurse. Roger Barbour said he wondered how are single working parents are supposed to handle this responsibility.
While waiting for the Legislature to act, the Barbours have figured out a temporary strategy to keep Genny medicated and in school.
With a doctor's guidance, Lora Barbour said she is giving her daughter three larger doses a day instead of the four doses that have succeeded in keeping the seizures at bay for days, or sometimes a week or more. The change has triggered some seizures, which interfered with her ability to sleep at night.
"It's working now, but it may not be working next week," Lora Barbour said.
They returned her to full-day classes in February at the Larc School for children with developmental disabilities located in Bellmawr, Camden County.
After suing Larc and the Maple Shade school district to force the school nurse to administer the oil to Genny, the Barbours reached a settlement. Maple Shade paid Roger Barbour, an attorney who represented his family in the matter, $45,000 in legal fees; Larc settled for an undisclosed amount, Roger Barbour said.
The Barbours said they are gratified to learn a handful of school districts in the state are adopting edible cannabis policies to comply with the law Christie signed seven months ago.
The Hillsborough, Somerset Hills School District and the Watchung Hills Regional High School Districts have adopted policies.
The New Jersey School Boards Association has provided all school districts with a sample policy school officials may use or modify, said Jeanette Rundquist, the association's spokeswoman. She said she did not know how many districts had adopted the policy.
"We have to appreciate what we have done. Kids can use this drug in school. We were the first state in the nation," Roger Barbour said. "We see people all the time who tell us we did a good thing."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Fight Isn't Over For NJ Teen Who Won Right To Consume Medical Marijuana At School
Author: Susan K. Livio
Contact: New Jersey Local News
Photo Credit: Huffington Post
Website: New Jersey Local News
Her family's fight to control her severe seizures with this unconventional medicine convinced Gov. Chris Christie in November that some children are so sick, they need edible marijuana during the school day. New Jersey was the first state in the nation to allow marijuana on school grounds.
But despite the Barbour family's success in passing a law requiring every school district in the state to adopt an edible cannabis policy, Genny's has yet to benefit from that effort.
"We are at a standstill," Lora Barbour, Genny's mother, said with an exasperated sigh. The Barbours thought they could finally start sending their daughter to full-day sessions at the Larc School in Bellmawr, Camden County, after cutting back in order for her to consume a lunchtime dose of cannabis oil mixed with soda.
"I'm starting to feel a little bit bitter, and I really don't want to be like that," she said. "It's a cause that needs to be fought."
The problem is twofold. Genny's epilepsy can be trumped by her other diagnosis: autism. And the original medical marijuana law enacted in 2010 has created an unforeseen barrier to Genny getting the edible oil as often as she appears to need it, according to her parents, Roger and Lora Barbour from Maple Shade in Burlington County.
The law allows only Genny's registered caregiver to administer the edible marijuana. But a midday visit from mom toting the marijuana oil to keep the seizures under control is likely to trigger a tantrum and unravel the remainder of her daughter's school day, Lora Barbour said.
One of the features of autism, a developmental disorder that impairs a person's ability to learn and communicate, "is repetitive behavior and an insistence on routines and rituals," said Suzanne Buchanan, executive director of the family advocacy group Autism New Jersey, who has no involvement in Genny Barbour's case. "Some are more affected by it than others. It also depends how they are feeling and sleeping."
Genny has been known to try to injure herself when she is frustrated or upset, her parents say.
The Barbours asked the state Health Department, which operates the medicinal marijuana program and the Attorney General Office whether they would allow the school nurse or an employee at the nearby marijuana dispensary to give their daughter a few drops of oil mixed in a small glass of soda. State officials said no.
The Barbours have asked their local legislators to change the law again to allow a caregiver designed by a parent to administer the medicine. Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden) introduced the bill on June 2.
"The new bill is perfect," Roger Barbour said. "It will do exactly what parents with sick kids need. If passed, we can proceed as we planned, with an employee from the dispensary giving Genny her daily medicine."
The Barbours said the law unfairly assumes a parent can leave work and drive to school every day to administer a child's medicine – a burden not felt by parents with children who take prescription drugs handled by the school nurse. Roger Barbour said he wondered how are single working parents are supposed to handle this responsibility.
While waiting for the Legislature to act, the Barbours have figured out a temporary strategy to keep Genny medicated and in school.
With a doctor's guidance, Lora Barbour said she is giving her daughter three larger doses a day instead of the four doses that have succeeded in keeping the seizures at bay for days, or sometimes a week or more. The change has triggered some seizures, which interfered with her ability to sleep at night.
"It's working now, but it may not be working next week," Lora Barbour said.
They returned her to full-day classes in February at the Larc School for children with developmental disabilities located in Bellmawr, Camden County.
After suing Larc and the Maple Shade school district to force the school nurse to administer the oil to Genny, the Barbours reached a settlement. Maple Shade paid Roger Barbour, an attorney who represented his family in the matter, $45,000 in legal fees; Larc settled for an undisclosed amount, Roger Barbour said.
The Barbours said they are gratified to learn a handful of school districts in the state are adopting edible cannabis policies to comply with the law Christie signed seven months ago.
The Hillsborough, Somerset Hills School District and the Watchung Hills Regional High School Districts have adopted policies.
The New Jersey School Boards Association has provided all school districts with a sample policy school officials may use or modify, said Jeanette Rundquist, the association's spokeswoman. She said she did not know how many districts had adopted the policy.
"We have to appreciate what we have done. Kids can use this drug in school. We were the first state in the nation," Roger Barbour said. "We see people all the time who tell us we did a good thing."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Fight Isn't Over For NJ Teen Who Won Right To Consume Medical Marijuana At School
Author: Susan K. Livio
Contact: New Jersey Local News
Photo Credit: Huffington Post
Website: New Jersey Local News
