New bill might allow Idahoans to use cannabis oil for medical reasons

A new bill introduced last week in the legislature would let people in Idaho use an oil extracted from cannabis plants, as long as it is prescribed by a licensed practitioner.

CBD oil is used to help treat muscle stiffness, anxiety, seizures, inflammation, and psychosis, as well as other conditions.

“My daughter,” Cynthia McCurdy said. “Has struggled with seizures for more than 20 years.”

25-year-old Karissa McCurdy deals with seizures and anxiety on a daily basis. About a year ago, she and her mother were given a prescription for CBD oil or hemp oil.

They chose to go with hemp oil.

“It works fantastic with seizure’s, epilepsy, depression,” Cynthia McCurdy said. “It is wonderful in those categories.”

Karissa has been using hemp oil for more than a year now, and says it’s done wonders.

“I sleep better, I have less anxiety and less seizures and less just anything,” said Karissa McCurdy.

Hemp is currently legal in the state of Idaho, whereas CBD is not.

Both have little to no THC in them.

That’s what gets you high.

“I am not for recreational use, but I am for medical necessities,” Cynthia McCurdy said. “It’s a great alternative I think.”

Although Karissa and Cynthia decided to go with hemp oil, they still say do your research before passing judgment.

“Study,” Cynthia McCurdy said. “Study it out for yourself. I know for our situation it has been a wonderful alternative to anxiety meds.”

Back in 2015, Governor Leroy “Butch” Otter vetoed a similar bill, that would have allowed kids with severe forms of epilepsy to use CBD oil. The bill this year is a little different, The doctor has to prescribe the oil and give the patient a card from the board of pharmacy. It gives law enforcement a way to know if the person with CBD oil is supposed to have it.

However, there are some concerns from people who want it completely deregulated and that’s an additional step. Representative Bryan Zollinger said there may be no card required, just a physician’s prescription. That bill may come out next week.

The House Health and Welfare Committee introduced the bill last Thursday. It still needs to pass a full hearing.

Currently, 18 states allow the use of “low THC, high CBD” products for medical reasons.