WHEAT RIDGE — A clash between state and federal marijuana law has a Jefferson County mom trying to figure out how to educate her disabled son, who depends on cannabis oil to treat spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and dystonia.
On Monday, Everitt Middle School officials discovered 14-year-old Jack Splitt was wearing a cannabis patch and his personal nurse, who stays in school with him each day, was carrying cannabis oil. They confiscated the medication and told his mother it can’t be on school grounds again.
“It scares me to death that medicine can be taken away from him, medicine that saves his life,” said Jack’s mother, Stacey Linn.
Jack’s disorder causes his muscles to tighten up and spasm. He can’t walk or talk and struggles to breathe.
A district spokeswoman told 7News the school wants to do everything possible to help Jack but is “between a rock and a hard place,” since marijuana is still illegal under federal law.
A check of other school districts revealed their policies are the same as Jeffco’s: that there is no difference in medical and recreational marijuana when it comes to schools and no type of cannabis is allowed on school property.