Supporters call yesterday a banner day, as Governor Terry Branstad signed a bill into law that provides “targeted immunity” in Iowa for the possession of cannabis oil as treatment for chronic epilepsy.
Two mothers who led the lobbying effort for the bill spoke with reporters moments after the bill signing ceremony. Maria La France of Des Moines has a son who suffers from epilepsy, and she had some choice words a few months ago when a legislator told her the bill could not pass the legislature. She had words of praise for the governor and legislators yesterday….
“The number one message is gratitude and thank you so much for your unwavering”.
La France grew emotional, paused, stepped back from the microphone and whispered “support” to finish her sentence. Sally Gaer of West Des Moines has a daughter who suffers from intractable epilepsy.
“When you’re a parent of a special needs child, you never give up. Anybody could call a bill dead, but we weren’t giving up,” Gaer says. “We knew there had to be another way.”
Governor Terry Branstad signed the bill in front of a huge gathering of parents and children with epilepsy, as well as about a dozen legislators who had worked on the bill.
