A federal judge in Mexico has granted an “amparo” request to the parents of an eight-year-old girl who suffers from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that causes her to have up to 400 seizures a day. The decision will allow the parents to import medication containing cannabidiol, a prohibited substance under Mexican law.
“It’s a watershed in our country because the marijuana issue in our country has been very complicated. What makes this significant is the departure from a policy of prohibiting all cannabis-related conduct,” Fabian Aguinaco, the family’s lawyer, said on Tuesday.
“The writ of amparo is a judicial mechanism in Mexico that dates back to the mid-19th century and is intended to ensure protection for individuals’ constitutional rights.”
The family argued that the law was unconstitutional because it violated human rights such as the “right to dignity” and the “freedom to live without pain.”
In his ruling, the judge said doctors must draw up a report, monitor the patient and determine the appropriate dose.