Maple Shade, N.J. District Becomes First To Allow Medical Marijuana For Students
MAPLE SHADE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A southern New Jersey school has become the first in the nation to allow a student to use medical marijuana.
A nurse will now allow edible medical marijuana for Genny Barbour, a student at the Larc School in Maple Shade. The school serves children with disabilities.
"We didn't think it would ever happen -- a godsend," mother Lora Barbour told CBS Philadelphia.
Genny Barbour, 16, has autism and suffers from potentially life-threatening seizures.
The decision allows her to receive a midday dose during school hours. Her parents said previously, they had to take her home from school after half a day so she could get her medicine.
"They're just like, 'OK, anybody who has epileptic seizures and needs this medicine and is properly licensed, we now will accept it," said her father, Roger Barbour. "So we're very happy. Genny can now stay in school a whole day."
Officials with the Maple Shade School District initially refused to allow the cannabis oil on school grounds because of legal concerns. The change came as the result of a bill signed by Gov. Chris Christie.
Lora Barbour said she will still have to drive to the school and give Genny the homemade cannabis oil, but she will no longer have to leave school.
"It's a game changer," Lora Barbour said.