Colorado Supreme Court To Look At Historic Case
It took three years for Alexis Bortell's medical marijuana lawsuit to reach the United States Supreme Court, but there is still a chance the Supreme Court will take up the case. SCOTUS is expected to meet on Friday 9 October to decide whether or not to shelve the cases for the 2021 term.
The 15-year-old from Larkspur has been using medical marijuana for three years as part of her treatment. The drug prevents her from having seizures caused by persistent epilepsy. Alexis's seizures were so severe that doctors in her home state of Texas recommended brain surgery. Instead, her parents moved to Colorado, where they grew marijuana in their backyard to help Alexis and others.
I think if I hadn't taken cannabis, I probably wouldn't be here, "she said in an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune last year.
The Colorado teenager is a plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit brought by New York attorney Michael Hiller. The lawsuit points out that the Justice Department has classified marijuana as a dangerous drug and the Federal Drug Agency Considers certain uses of medical marijuana "life-saving," the lawsuit says. Hillinger said the federal government's treatment of marijuana and its use in medical treatment is unconstitutionally irrational.
At the same time, the federal government is hopelessly at odds with itself under the Controlled Substances Act. It just doesn't make sense, there are patents for medical marijuana that confirm its efficacy, and they have a patent for it that confirms its efficacy. Hiller said there is no scientific evidence of the medical use of marijuana to treat cancer, AIDS, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases.
Meanwhile, Alexis cannot get on a plane to cross the border, and she said she cannot visit her grandparents or go to Texas for her medication. She told FOX31: 'We really need the Supreme Court to intervene in this matter.
It will take four justices to decide whether a medical marijuana trial is something the entire court should focus on. A court decision is likely to be made in a few weeks and is likely to cause a lot of confusion for Alexis and her family.
Currently, 33 states have legalized one form of marijuana, and five more are on the ballot. If the court does decide to hear Alexis' case, the arguments will be heard in March, with a decision expected in June.