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7-year-old’s medicinal marijuana use ignites national debate

Posted at 9:32 AM, Nov 27, 2012
and last updated 2012-11-27 09:32:53-05

PORTLAND, Ore. (WTVR) - A young girl's fight against cancer sparks a national debate: How young is too young to use medical marijuana?

Seven-year-old Mykayla Comstock was diagnosed with with leukemia last spring. To deal with the side effects of her chemotherapy, her mom treats her with cannabis oil.

Medicinal marijuana is legal in Oregon, and there's no age limit associated with its use.

Mykayla's mother told The Oregonian once she found out her child had the disease, she knew she would treat her with marijuana.

"'I felt like I was gonna lose my child at that point," Erin Purchase told the newspaper. "I knew I would do whatever it took to save her life."

The story gained national attention after Mykayla's father lodged a complaint with the state over the treatment, saying it doesn't help to have the child "stoned out of her mind."

The child, however, agrees with her mother. Mykayla says chemotherapy makes her feel awful.

"It makes you not eat very good and it makes you feel kind of pukie," she said.

Mykayla's mother and father are divorced. Her father lives in another state, but says he's so upset, he's contact child welfare services to investigate.