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ANorth Manchester, Indiana resident Jerry Williams has ALS. He told the House committee about the benefits he experiences from CBD oil.
Brandon Smith/IPB NewsA House committee passed legislation Wednesday to legalize cannabidiol, or CBD. The unanimously-approved bill takes a simpler approach to authorizing its use.
There are several bills in both chambers that seek to legalize CBD. But most of the others deal with industrial hemp and CBD derived from that product. Rep. Tom Washburne (R-Inglefield) says there are problems with that approach.
“It would be a significant burden for an Indiana citizen to have to figure out whether the CBD oil they bought, perhaps on vacation, was derived from industrial hemp or whether it was derived from another member of the cannabis genus,” Washburne says.
Washburne’s language would legalize CBD as long as it has point-three percent or less THC, a psychoactive ingredient – regardless of what cannabis plant the CBD comes from.
Many testified in support of CBD’s legalization. But Jerry Williams had the greatest effect on the committee. Williams is from North Manchester, Indiana and has ALS.
“CBD oil won’t cure me, nor does it eliminate all of my symptoms,” Williams says. “However, it does minimize my symptoms during the day so I can be in the moments I have left.”
The bill now goes to the House floor.
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