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Central Indiana father says CBD oil helps his son's seizures, wants it made available in state

Posted at 1:56 AM, Oct 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-27 17:54:19-04

A central Indiana father is begging state lawmakers to approve a medicine made from hemp, that would help control his son’s seizures.

Brian Bennett’s 8-year-old son was diagnosed with epilepsy. At one point he was having up to 200 seizures a day.

“Joe went through 15 medications that didn’t help his seizures,” said Bennett.

Bennett said his son had to wear a helmet, because he would fall and hit his head. He broke 24 of those helmets, until his parents discovered CBD oil.

CBD oil is made from hemp. It can be manufactured and sold in other states, but not in Indiana.

So for now, Bennett has to travel out of state to get the oil for his son.

Two years in a row, the Indiana House has passed a bill that would allow the sale of CBD oil in the state, but Senator Jean Leising continues to block the bill.

She said she does not believe doctors can legally prescribe the drug in Indiana, and she does not anticipate anything happening that would make her allow the legislation to go forward.

Bennett said he has traveled as far as Colorado to purchase the oil for his son, and will continue to do so, until it’s made legal in Indiana.