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Mourning Jack Splitt, The Teen Who Changed Cannabis Law Forever

Mourning Jack Splitt, The Teen Who Changed Cannabis Law Forever

Health

Mourning Jack Splitt, The Teen Who Changed Cannabis Law Forever

Jack Splitt

Jack’s Law

Jack Splitt died last week at the age of 15. He was a high school student in Colorado, and he will be remembered for being the teen who changed cannabis law forever.

“Jack’s Law,” passed by Colorado State Legislature this summer, requires schools to allow parents to provide medical cannabis treatment to their children on school property.

Jack’s tireless efforts to change the hearts and minds of lawmakers on the question of medical cannabis were unmatched by even the most passionate advocates, say those who knew him.

Medical Cannabis on Campus

Jack Splitt began medical cannabis treatments to alleviate the symptoms of his severe cerebral palsy and the intense pain that came with it. While he was at school, Jack used a cannabis skin patch, similar to a nicotine patch, to treat his pain.

In February 2015, a school employee discovered the arm patch, and forcibly removed it from Jack’s arm. Jack and his mother Stacy Linn began their crusade to bring medical cannabis on campus the next day.

In 2015, they managed to get the state to pass a law allowing schools to create their own medical cannabis policies. The problem for Jack was that none of the schools in Colorado ended up creating those policies. That’s when Jack and his mom decided to up the ante.

Not A “Cheech-and-Chong Thing”

In 2016, Jack and his mom began their campaign to pass a law that would require schools to allow parents or caregivers to administer medical cannabis treatments to their children on school grounds.

Once lawmakers and advocates met Jack and heard his story, it was a short time before they began making real changes in Colorado cannabis law.

Teri Robnett, who founded the Cannabis Patients Alliance, doesn’t think “Jack’s Law” would be on the books today if it weren’t for the dedication and charisma of Jack Splitt.

Rep. Jonathan Singer, a Democrat, agrees. “Anyone who knew him knew that he was charming, he was engaging. … and he finally put a human face to what most people perceive as a Cheech-and-Chong subject.”

Jack’s legacy will be his accomplishments showing that what’s really at stake is children’s well-being and health.

Remembering Jack Splitt’s Legacy

Jack had just begun classes for the school year when his symptoms started getting worse. His painful and debilitating muscle contractions ultimately led to his death last Wednesday, leaving a huge gap in his family and community.

But Jack will always be remembered as the teen who brought safe, effective medical cannabis treatments to students in schools across Colorado.

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