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OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin wants lawmakers to work with her in the next legislative session to support the legalization of medicinal cannabidiol oil (CBD) on a limited, medically supervised, trial-only basis.

Gov. Fallin is expected to talk more about her decision and support at a press conference Wednesday.

CBD is a component in the cannabis (marijuana) plant.

Research suggests that it may be effective to treat toddlers with rare conditions that cause seizures and strokes. CBD is an oil; it is not smoked. It is not intoxicating or used as a recreational drug.

This strain doesn’t give patients the feeling of getting high, according to medical experts.

“I do not support legalizing the recreational use of marijuana,” said Fallin. “Nor do I support a broadly-defined ‘medicinal’ marijuana use that makes it easy for healthy adults and teenagers to find and buy drugs.”

“I do support allowing potentially life-saving medicine to find its way to children in need. I am very interested in allowing limited, heavily supervised use of non-intoxicating CBD to be delivered on a trial-basis to sick children in Oklahoma.”

Rep. Jon Echols is currently preparing to lead a legislative study examining the possibility of allowing medical trials for the use of non-intoxicating CBD oils to children affected by severe seizures.

“I am extremely interested in the findings of that study, and I look forward to working with lawmakers in both parties to pursue policies that can help sick Oklahoma children,” said Fallin.

In a press conference on Wednesday Governor Fallin emphasized that this study will be a very limited clinical research trial only available to children.

Rep. Echols said he decided to take on the issue when his niece was told CBD oil may help with her medical condition.

Rep. Echols says the CBD oil they are studying will contain below 0.3 THC. They will have to convince the Public Health Committee there is no chance anyone will abuse CBD oil because it is non-intoxicating.

When asked where the funding for this study would come from, Rep. Echols said he is open to the possibility of the study being funded by state dollars, private dollars, federal dollars, foundation dollars, and grants.