RICHMOND, Va. -
State lawmakers have taken their first steps toward allowing medical marijuana in Virginia.
Both the House of Delegates and the State Senate have passed legislation that allows the possession of liquid cannabis oils for patients with a severe form of epilepsy.
For a group of moms, it was a moment of disbelief and happiness.
Legislation they were told was a long shot, had just sailed through the House of Delegates. And a similar bill had already passed the State Senate.
Lisa Smith believes her daughter can benefit from the treatment. "For our family it's a quality of life," she told reporters after the vote. "Haley has had over a hundred seizures this year already, so you just sit there and wonder how many times, when is she going to be in a full-blown seizure. So it's just some relief knowing that it's closer than it's been."
What swayed state lawmakers they believe were the stories of children with epilepsy who could benefit from the use of cannabis oils, and some who already have.
15-year-old Jennifer Collins says the derivative of marijuana has helped control her seizures.
I went from over 300 seizures a day to on a really good day, 10," she told us.
Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) did raise concerns on the floor of the House.
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State lawmakers allow medical marijuana for treatment of epilepsy