Dear Governor Corbett,
I am writing this open letter to you today to express my disappointment in your spokesman’s statement that you will not support the bipartisan medical cannabis bill introduced by me and Senator Mike Folmer. Further, I ask that you agree to meet with the parents of the young boy who inspired the bill you have now said you oppose.
As I assume you know, Garrett Brann is a 3-year old little boy who suffers from Dravet Syndrome, which is a form of epilepsy. He suffers up to 100 seizures per day. He takes a cocktail of very toxic and addictive drugs that have severe side effects. These drugs do not typically work very well and aren’t working for Garrett.
What does work for children with Dravet’s is Charlotte’s Web, an oil derived from the cannabis plant. This oil is high in cannabinoids (CBDs) which help the children with epilepsy, but contain insufficient levels of THC to intoxicate anyone who uses it. In other words, Charlotte’s Web cannot get someone “high”. Charlotte’s Web has dramatically reduced or eliminated the seizures in children who have had access to it, without side effects, without intoxication, and without addiction. With this medicine, Garrett has a chance at a normal life. Without it, he will die.
According to your spokesman Jay Pagni, you will not allow Garrett to get the medicine that could save his life because you want to wait until the federal government “makes a ruling on the drug being used for medical purposes.”
But surely you are aware that this has already happened. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder issued a directive indicating that the federal government will not interfere with state cannabis laws, and 21 states now have medical cannabis laws and dispensaries up and running. There is no doubt that this is something we are permitted to do.
Mr. Pagni then said that even though you will stand in the way of easing Garrett’s suffering, this should not be construed as decreasing your “compassion for children.” But I’m sure you can understand how hollow such expressions of compassion are to the parents of a boy whose life could be saved if you’d only agree to save it.
In other words, true compassion involves more than saying you are compassionate. It requires compassionate, rather than cruel, actions.
The Brann family has requested that I ask you if you would be willing to meet with them. They feel that if they fully explained their story to you, being — as your spokesman points out– a father and a grandfather, you would put ideology aside, and work with the Branns to find a way to help their boy. They would be happy to work around your schedule and meet with you at a time most convenient to you. Please let me know whether you are willing to do that. I appreciate your attention to this matter.
EDITOR: Senator Leach represents Montgomery County’s 17th District. He is a Democrat. Marijuana and drug policy reform are bi-partisan issues.
Currently close to 80% of the American public supports marijuana being made available by doctor prescription for health purposes.
If Garrett was my child I would get the Charlotte’s Web drug from one of the 21 states now distributing it without involving the Governor. What if Mr. Holder gets hit by a bus and his replacement sees things differently.
Garrett’s parents are causing their child to suffer to make a political point and should be reported to child welfare.