US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been sued by an epileptic 12-year-old who wants to legalize medical marijuana across America after she was forced to move from Texas to Colorado to access the drug.
Alexis Bortell (right), 12, who suffers from epilepsy, filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against US Attorney General Jeff Sessions (left) in July.
Alexis Bortell filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against Sessions, the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Agency in July.
Other plaintiffs on the lawsuit inlcude Bortell’s father, Dean, and former NFL player Marvin Washington, according to ABC News.
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions (left) has been sued by 12-year-old Alexis Bortell (right) who wants to make medical marijuana legal across America
Alexis, who suffers from epilepsy, filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against Sessions, the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Agency in July
The lawsuit seeks to make medical marijuana legal across the US. There are currently 29 states, as well as Washington, DC, that have legalized medical marijuana.
‘This lawsuit stands to benefit tens of millions of Americans who require, but are unable to safely obtain, Cannabis for the treatment of their illnesses, diseases and medical conditions,’ according to the suit.
Alexis has suffered from epilepsy since she was seven years old. According to ABC, her epilepsy cannot be safely controlled with FDA-approved treatments and procedures.
But when her family tried a form of marijuana, Alexis found ‘immediate relief from her seizures’.
Alexis, who would often have multiple seizures a day, and her family moved from Texas to Colorado to take advantage of the state’s legalized marijuana.
‘Since being on whole-plant medical Cannabis, Alexis has gone more than two years seizure-free,’ the suit claims.
The lawsuit also says that Alexis won’t be able to return to Texas, according to ABC.
Alexis hopes to attend college in the Lone Star State, but if she continues to use marijuana to control her epilepsy, then she could be arrested.
Dean Bortell (left) kisses Alexis, she waits to testify during a House committee hearing on a pair of bills that would ban co-op pot growing by setting a statewide limit of 12 marijuana plants per residential property in March
Other plaintiffs on the lawsuit inlcude Bortell’s father and former NFL player Marvin Washington