Mark Pedersen (pictured) had been providing the cannabis oil to boy with cerebal palsy in order to treat his ailments

A man who gave cannabis oil to a Colorado boy with cerebal palsy is facing several felony charges for illegally manufacturing and distributing the drug.

Mark Pedersen had been providing the oil to Jack Splitt before the boy's death on August 25, 2016.

Jack, who was 15 when he died, had severe cerebal palsy and dystonia, a disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions.

After he was denied the use of marijuana oil at his school in Jefferson County west of Denver, he became the impetus for a 2016 state law that allowed eligible students to use the drug on campus.

Pedersen was instrumental in fighting to get the state law passed requiring schools to allow students to use medical marijuana.

When Splitt died, a Lakewood police officer who was assigned to the West Metro Drug Task Force began investigating Pedersen, 60.

He is accused of manufacturing with the intent to distribute marijuana, Denver television station KMGH-TV reported Thursday.

Jack Splitt, 15, died in August 2016 following complications due to severe cerebal palsy and dystonia, a disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions

Upon Splitt's death, police began investigating Pedersen for manufacturing cannabis oil in his home

Officers found 25 pounds of cannabis oil and between five and 50 pounds of marijuana belonging to Pedersen, which was unrelated to cannabis oil production.

They also found items related to the manufacturing of marijuana oil during a search of the boy's family home shortly after his death, according to an arrest affidavit.

Pedersen was renting a room in the basement at the time.

'I have been charged with five felony counts... for the production of cannabis oil' Pedersen told KMGH-TV in a recent interview.

Officers also found notebooks that listed treatments for Pedersen's 'patients,' several of whom were minors, as well as Facebook posts written by Pedersen touting the benefits of medical marijuana.

'I need to be reminded my life is not my own. I have a purpose ... I can make oil. I can provide hope,' one post read.

Pedersen is adamant that he is not a drug trafficker or dealer, saying police have an antiquated notion of medicinal marijuana.

Pedersen has pleaded not guilty to the felony charges, who was not registered as a caregiver with the state

'I have never sold cannabis, I never had the intention of selling cannabis,' he says.

I have had mothers and fathers who have come to me with babies on hospice saying "can you give me a week, can you give me two weeks, can you give me a month"... I did.'

Pedersen's attorney, Matthew Buck, told KMGH-TV the charges are unfounded and that the case would not have come about had it not been for Jack's death.

'We feel strongly he's overcharged because they're charging him with possessing a significant more amount of concentrate than he had,' Buck said.

Pedersen was not registered with the state as a medical marijuana caregiver, although he did have a medical marijuana card.

A phone call to Stacey Linn, Jack's mother, was not immediately returned Thursday evening.



