A Republican lawmaker in Georgia is planning to unveil a bill next week to legalize cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component of the marijuana plant, for medical purposes.

“I’m an unlikely champion for this cause. I’ve never done drugs. Never smoked marijuana in my life,” state Rep. Allen Peake told The Huffington Post. “But I had a visit with Haleigh Cox, the daughter of a constituent of mine. The result of seeing the pain and suffering she goes through, having 100 seizures a day, and seeing a potential remedy through cannabidiol treatment, I was compelled to move to action.”

“I just know if Haleigh was my daughter or my grandchild, I would be moving heaven and earth to make sure [cannabidiol] was available. That’s how we need to look at it. This is somebody’s child,” he said. “I’m going to use every ounce of political influence I have [to pass this bill.]”

Georgia Rep. Micah Gravley, also a Republican, told The Post that he, too, supports the legalization of medical marijuana treatments and plans to co-sponsor the bill.

“I am not in favor of opening up the discussion about recreational use of marijuana in Georgia, but if some components and derivatives of this plant can help to improve the quality of life or even save the life of a child, I believe the right thing to do as lawmakers is to move forward with granting parents and children access to beneficial treatment,” he said.

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