A ten-year-old girl with a rare but intractable form of epilepsy is leading the crusade to have marijuana extract oil approved for medicinal use in her home state of Idaho as a form of treatment for her deadly seizures . Alexis Carey , from Boise , has Dravet Syndrome , an incurable genetic disease that causes severe and multiple seizures , which often leave parents guessing if the terror of watching their child seize up will pass or turn fatal . After her family learned that oil extracted from marijuana had helped other children with her condition , they wanted to see if it would help her too , but Idaho ’ s stringent marijuana laws do not allow for medicinal use . Family support : Alexis Carey ( left ) , a 10-year-old girl with a rare form of epilepsy , sat with her mother Clare Carey ( center ) and five-year-old sister Alanis Carey ( right ) last Friday in Boise , Idaho . Helping hand : Alexis , who has Dravet Syndrome , worked with her therapist Brigette Borup last week as her family fights to have Idaho lawmakers legalize marijuana extract oil to treat her seizures . 'Parent to parent , when you 're in a small community and 10 people that you know are all having success , that 's no longer anecdotal , ' Clare Carey , her mother , said . 'That 's hope . ' The family began lobbying lawmakers to decriminalize the oil almost two years ago . Now , they 've got some legislative backers and an upcoming hearing , as Idaho joins a larger movement to loosen laws to allow the use of marijuana extract oil . Twelve states have legalized the oil while still banning medical marijuana . Virginia legalized the oil February 26 . In Utah , lawmakers have given initial approval to let those with chronic and debilitating diseases consume edible marijuana products , while still banning smoking . Marijuana extract oil first received attention when a Colorado family fought and won for access for their daughter who also had Dravet Syndrome . It is similar to hemp oil , which is legal in Idaho and can be bought in grocery stores . With no known cure for Dravet Syndrome , children are often prescribed a cocktail of medications to counter the seizures . However , the heavy drugs often come with side-effects that can permanently damage a child 's developing liver , kidneys and other organs . Proponents of cannabidiol oil , a non-psychotropic extract of marijuana , argue that it reduces the amount and length of seizures in children . Over time , Mrs Carey hopes that the oil would also reduce the number of medications her daughter relies on . 'Like any parent , you never give up hope that you can get complete seizure control , ' she said . 'Children die from Dravet by any one of the seizures . Alexis could have a seizure that may not stop , we never really know . ' Sisterly bond : Alexis can be seen playing with Alanis . The 10-year-old girl began having seizures when she was only two months old . Natural remedy : This closeup image shows a drop of marijuana oil on the end of a needle . Proponents of the oil for medicinal use argue that it reduces the amount and length of seizures in children . Making a change : Governor Terry McAuliffe ( center ) holds Haley Smith , 14 , from White Stone , Virginia on his lap after signing the bills that allow the possession of marijuana oils to help treat patients with epilepsy . Alexis began having seizures when she was two months old . But even in 2003 , her mom says a lack of awareness of the disease led to many doctors not automatically suspecting it could be a rare , genetic disorder . It was n't until Alexis lost all speech and potty control when she was two that doctors determined she had Dravet Syndrome , Mrs Carey said . Since then , Alexis ' parents have put her on a variety of diets and medications to help reduce the seizures , but the disease is tricky to manage . Dravet Syndrome often causes a variety of different kinds of seizures but medications typically target one particular type . Alexis ' seizures usually occur at night , which means one of her parents regularly sleep with her and monitor her sleep patterns . During the day , Alexis requires constant supervision . While most 10-year-olds freely run and jump around , Alexis walks - albeit sometimes unstably and with help going up and down stairs . Mrs Carey said working with Idaho 's Republican-controlled Legislature has been easier than anticipated . Lawmakers who resisted the idea at first blush have warmed up to the idea , she explained . This year , the bill is endorsed by Republicans Senator Curt McKenzie and Representative Tom Loertscher . Both are chairs of the legislature 's State Affairs Committees , panels that often get tossed controversial legislation and have a high bar for clearance . The measure unanimously passed the Senate committee during its introduction hearing , which means it now goes on to a full hearing in front of the committee . Yet the bill must survive a Statehouse that approved a resolution in 2013 vowing never to legalize marijuana for any purpose .
Alexis Carey , from Boise , marijuana , has Dravet Syndrome , an incurable genetic disease that causes severe and multiple seizures . Proponents of Idaho oil argue that it reduces the amount and length of seizures in children , but marijuana ’ s laws do not allow for medicinal use . Alexis ' family began lobbying lawmakers to decriminalize the oil almost two years ago . Now , they have an upcoming hearing .