Otis is heading to the State House!

Updates:

1. We're still waiting on Otis' red card (medical marijuana card) from the state of Colorado.  They asked to allow for 4-6 weeks for processing and we've been waiting about 5...with Christmas and New Year’s we'll give them a bit longer before we contact them.

2. We have heard back from Realm of Caring about obtaining Charlotte's Web...and Otis will not be able to start that particular strain of MMJ until October.  The reason is that once a child starts Charlotte’s Web (CW) they promise to have a continuous supply…and so many families have started using that if more started now they wouldn’t be able to supply those already taking the medicine.  So they are growing more plants, but they won’t be ready for harvest until October.  However, we do not plan to wait that long before starting treatment.  There are other strains of medical marijuana that are high in CBD and low THC.  We know this because we have read about other parents heading out to CO and trying other strands until CW is available.  So now we're researching and asking doctors and parents what they would suggest.  We'll let you know when we have a more concrete plan.  

3. The three of us are headed to Topeka this week to meet with some Kansas State Legislators.  We had been talking about doing this for a while, but with not really being sure of the best way to go about it combined with the moving overwhelm, therapy 3 times per week in KC, and research...it got put on the back burner...until it was stoked by a couple of Bills.  (Thanks, Bill C. and Bill N!)  Speaking of Bills...this week we'll be meeting with Dave Crum, Marci Fransisco, Paul Davis, John Wilson, Barbara Ballard, Tom Holland, and Tom Sloan, and hope to meet with Gail Finney soon.  (We may see a couple more, if possible. Please let us know if you know of any key individuals we should be talking to!)  We've got 10-15 minutes with each and plan on telling them our story and how important legalizing medical marijuana is for the citizens of our state.  We know that the legalization battle will not be easy, but there have been other law makers from other states who have said what changed their minds about this topic was meeting families (like us!) who would benefit.  If this treatment works for Otis, we won't be able to come back to Kansas as a family to advocate, so we want to do everything we can while we're all still here.  

Cool Green Horse at Curt and Maria's, thanks for the Ride!

Insurance is processing his own set of wheels, but this loaner has been fun in the meantime.

Happy 2014, Y'all!