Bill Approved Allowing Children to Use Medical Marijuana at School

Delaware children who are legal medical marijuana patients may now use their medicine, medical marijuana oil, on school property. The legislation, Senate Bill 181, was passed by the Delaware General Assembly. Senator Ernie Lopez sponsored the bill, which passed with nearly a unanimous vote.

A single legislator was not in attendance when the bill was approved. The absent Governor Jack Markell is expected to sign the bill into law near the beginning of the next school year in September, NewsWorks reports.

Senator Lopez said, “It feels terrific. This bill came about as a result of a lot of hard work. It’s a good bi-partisan legislation that’s going to help kids and families in Delaware.” He also said that, “This was a collaborative approach, which is the way it should be, when it comes to the health of our children. And in these very polarized political times this is another example of how we continue to show that we come together on behalf of our constituents and I’m really proud of that.”

Senator Lopez’s legislation, Rylie’s Law, was passed with a nearly unanimous vote in 2015. Rylie’s Law allows adolescents with intractable epilepsy and some muscle disorders to use medical marijuana oil as a form of treatment.

An amendment to legislation was passed recently stating that medical marijuana oil caregivers cannot be affiliated with the school. It has to be administered by the parent or legal guardian of the child.

The percentage of adolescent medical marijuana patients in Delaware is only 0.3-percent of the total number of registered patients statewide. The largest age group of medical marijuana patients ranges from age 51 through age 60.

Janie Maedler, mother of the bill’s namesake Rylie, said, “This new law will not only be a relief for Rylie, bot other more medically fragile children who should never be in harsh weather, who are more difficult to transport off school grounds.”

Rylie spoke openly about her need to access her medication while at school to legislators.

Maedler also said, “It means there will be less disruption to her school day, so she can stay on task, and she will not have to leave the school property in the weather every single day to take her medicine. She will no longer feel singled out due to having to leave every single day and then come back because of her type of medicine.”

Lopez concluded his thoughts with, “This bill was constituent driven, and this is a responsive building where we respond to our constituents, so as long as there are still some needs out there in the community, we will respond to what their needs are. But, today is a great day for our children.”