Crossing the Line: Care of a Pediatric Patient with Intractable Seizures and Severe Neuropathic Pain in Absence of Access to Medical Marijuana

• Published in: Journal of palliative medicine Vol. 22; no. 10; p. 1232
• Main Authors: Weaver, Meaghann S, White, Adam G, Robinson, Jacob
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2019
• Subjects: cannabis; symptom management; medical marijuana; pediatric palliative care
• ISSN: 1557-7740
• DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2019.0261

A reality of the current political and legal environment is that while marijuana and cannabis-based products remain not approved for human consumption at the federal level in the United States, several states have authorized use for constituents. While state lines represent meaningful cultural and geographical identity markers, the reality is that patients and families readily cross state lines to access medical interventions and care. We present the case of a six-year-old child with intractable seizures and severe neuropathic pain managed on medical marijuana (MM) in her home state of Colorado; where medicinal use of marijuana is authorized at the state level; traveling across state lines to access surgical care in Nebraska where MM is prohibited. The case report shares the communication and creativity invested in adequate symptom management for this child weaned off of MM perioperatively. The case recognizes the unique complexities of shared symptom management goals within state-specific care models.