Family moves for medical marijuana

The Benton family has finally decided enough is enough. Heather Benton and her three-year-old daughter Addyson boarded a plane bound for Colorado on Thursday afternoon. Heather's husband, Adam, and their two dogs won't be too far behind in the moving truck.

Addyson was diagnosed with myoclonic epilepsy at 14 months old. Tests showed she was having over 1,000 seizures a day. After trying several medications unsuccessfully, the family was almost without hope.

Then they researched medical marijuana. The Bentons decided that it would be in Addyson's best interest to give it a shot.

"We actually have two doctors out in Colorado that Addyson sees once a year and both of the doctors think that she will benefit really well from a form of the non-psychoactive form of the plant called THCa. That's what we are going for," said Heather.

The family had intended to move in October but kept hitting roadblocks. The family then decided to stay in Ohio after they were told they were on a waiting list for a form of CBD (cannabidiol) oil and that it could be shipped to them. Originally the oil was going to be shipped in March and then it was pushed back to October, which still did not happen.

They are finally able to obtain the oil – which is called Charlotte's Web CBD for its success in halting the epileptic seizures of Charlotte Fiji who is now 8 – but they worried that it will not be enough.

"We've noticed instantly after two weeks of Addyson being on the Charlotte's Web CBD oil that her walking is better, her talking is better, her attention is better. It's phenomenal the changes we have seen in her these two weeks, but it has not controlled her seizures. We really need to jump on top of that while she's growing," said Heather.

Even though groups are trying to gain enough signatures for the legalization of marijuana to be placed on the ballot in Ohio this November, the Bentons weren't hopeful.

And they need help now.

"We need to get out to Colorado and come up with a plan and figure out what things are going to work for her. Once we figure that out, and Ohio's bill passes we can look at getting her on the same medication and then we can come back.

"Even if the bill passed tomorrow" said Heather, "if I went to my neurologist or our pediatrician, they wouldn't have a clue what to tell us about dosing and what's safe with her current medications. We just want to be surrounded by people who know what they are doing."