The Food and Drug Administration is giving the University of Alabama at Birmingham the green light to study the use of a marijuana derivative to treat seizures.
Parents of children with seizure disorders persuaded the Alabama Legislature last year to pass a bill authorizing UAB's Department of Neurology to do a study of the marijuana derivative cannabidiol as a seizure treatment.
A UAB spokesman said Tuesday that the FDA has approved the study, but has requested modifications. A university review board will discuss the changes next month. The study will provide all participants with access to the oil, instead of giving placebos.
Lawmakers approved the study after a decriminalization bill stalled. The bill is known as "Carly's Law" for Carly Chandler of Pelham, who suffers frequent seizures.