10-year-old Sadie Bourne has a brain disorder called Rett syndrome. Her mother, Stephanie Vaughn, said she suffers from seizures, insomnia and anxiety.
About three years ago, Sadie's doctor recommended giving her cannabidiol, or CBD tincture. CBD is derived from the hemp plant. Tinctures also contain trace amounts of THC. THC is the compound from the cannabis plant that gives pot the high.
“Just a few weeks ago, we celebrated one year of being seizure-free for her, which was a remarkable milestone for her and for us. I’m no longer afraid to leave the house to go,” Vaughn said.
But Vaughn worries that her daughter's health is at risk. In September, the state banned all hemp products containing THC.
It can no longer be legally sold in California stores or purchased online from other states. Adults 21 and older can still purchase from medical marijuana dispensaries.
Vaughn said she found something that worked for her daughter, but she doesn't have access to it right now.
“It's not like you can actually come into the venue and look at what they have and say, any brand, any type is OK. These are very specific types, brands, doses, and especially for the pediatric population. If you’re talking about it, you can’t change it,” Vaughn said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the ban, saying loopholes in the law allow children easy access to intoxicating products.
Since the United States legalized hemp in 2018, some people have used the plant to produce a harmful synthetic THC called delta-8. It has been added to edible foods that anyone can purchase. About 11% of 12th grade students in the United States reported using delta-8-THC in the past year, according to a study published in March by researchers at the University of Southern California.
Natasha Wade, a researcher at the University of California, San Diego, is studying children using CBD for health purposes, including 700 children in San Diego County. Her latest research found that nearly 3% of youth ages 11 to 15 use commercially available CBD products for medical or health-related purposes. Her research also shows that THC is present in those CBD products.
“So even if parents thought they were only giving their children pure CBD products and thought that was all their children had ever used, 23% still tested positive for THC. We responded,” Wade said.
Wade says her findings highlight the need for CBD regulation. She says more research needs to be done to confirm that hemp and THC are what the sellers claim.
“The data has not yet proven that all of this does, and we don't have the ability to do the research. We need to see what we can actually treat effectively,” she said. Said.
Vaughn said CBD has been life-changing for her family. She was stocking up on tinctures when Newsom proposed the ban.
“Our lives are almost back to normal and we can go on adventures as a family without feeling this panic, and it’s all thanks to CBD.”
The ban will last until March 2025.
