Markell signs marijuana oils bill

Gov. Jack Markell signed legislation Tuesday that allows children to legally access marijuana-extracted oils for the treatment of seizures, severe muscle spasms, intractable nausea and other conditions.

The bill, known as Rylie's Law, was signed in front of a bipartisan group of lawmakers and takes effect immediately. The legislation narrowly opens Delaware's medical marijuana program to minors by allowing access to the oils.

The legislation specifically allows doctors to certify minor patients to use marijuana for the treatment of intractable epilepsy or "involuntary muscle contractions that cause slow, repetitive movements or abnormal postures."

The proposal allows Delaware children to use two oils extracted from marijuana to help treat seizures – cannabidiol oil and THC-A oil. Children would not become intoxicated from using the oils, advocates have said.

Rylie's Law was named after a Rehoboth girl, Rylie Maedler, who started experiencing seizures in 2013 after a surgery to remove a benign but aggressive tumor that spread from her jaw to the palate of her mouth. The marijuana oils give the 9-year-old a chance to normally live her life, lawmakers said during the signing, and do the things she loves, like drawing and playing with her little brother.

Her mother, Janie, said she was "extremely relieved" that the legislation was signed. The bill passed both chambers unanimously, a rare feat for what's been a contentious legislative session.

"I didn't think it was going to happen easily," Maedler said. "It's been a tough road."

After the signing, Rylie said she was "very, very, very happy."

Contact Jon Offredo at (302) 678-4271, on Twitter @JonOffredo or joffredo@delawareonline.com.