JEFFERSON CITY — On Thursday, April. 23, legislation sponsored by Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D - St. Louis, was third read and passed by the Senate and was first read in the House. Senate Bill 386, which would expand the number of medical conditions that can be treated with Cannabidiol (CBD) in Missouri. Last year, the Legislature passed a bill allowing those with intractable epilepsy to access CBD extract, an extract from hemp. Senator Keaveny’s measure would grant patients with other serious medical conditions access to the extract which will allow them relief from serious and sometimes debilitating symptoms or effects of the disease.

Under SB 386, people with cancer, HIV, AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord damage, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathies, Huntington's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, or certain specified symptoms or complications associated with the conditions listed above, would be able to receive a form of hemp extract. The patients would then be able to possibly receive relief from symptoms that can be debilitating.

CBD oil has been shown to reduce nausea and vomiting, suppress seizure activity, and combat inflammatory disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, tumor and cancer cells, and a variety of depression disorders.

Senator Keaveny stressed that unlike THC, the compound in marijuana known for its mind-altering properties, CBD oil does not produce those side effects and is not a psycho-active drug but instead is an avenue for these patients to find additional relief of symptoms of life-changing medical conditions.

“Following last year’s passage of the CBD oil bill that brought to light the true medical benefits of using CBD oil and the fact that the Legislature supported the real medical benefits to hemp, opened the doors for us to seek additional help for those who suffer from other medical conditions, outside of epilepsy. Science and patients in other states have proven many can find relief by using hemp when dealing with the effects of certain symptoms and disease processes,” said Sen. Keaveny.