The Havre de Grace City Council passed a resolution pledging support for Havre de Grace High School sophomore Connor Sheffield.
Elizabeth Janney, Patch Staff
Posted Thu, Feb 13, 2020 at 11:57 pm ET|Updated Fri, Feb 14, 2020 at 2:40 am ET
HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — The Havre de Grace City Council hosted a special meeting this week to pass a resolution in support of one of its young residents.
In an unusual move, Havre de Grace Mayor William T. Martin convened a meeting Wednesday night to put on record that the city supports proposed legislation inspired by Connor Sheffield.
Sheffield, 15, has a prescription for medical cannabis to address a condition that made him, until recently, require a feeding tube.
But for him to get his medicine — despite the fact that he has a medical marijuana prescription — he cannot go to the school nurse and have the drops of oil he needs to be administered. Instead, his parents must take him off the school grounds to give him the medicine so he does not fall ill.
Much of his intestines and bowels were removed due to a condition he has called gastrointestinal dysmotility. Every few hours, he requires a tincture, or drop of oil on his tongue, for nausea.
House Bill 331 and Senate Bill 605, also known as “Connor’s Courage,” would require the state’s medical cannabis commission to develop guidelines for public schools around the administration of medical cannabis during school hours and school-sponsored activities after school. The bills stipulate the Maryland State Department of Education and Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission submit the guidelines by Dec. 1.
Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti, D-Harford, was one of the sponsors of the house bill, while Senator Brian Feldman, D-Montgomery, sponsored the senate bill.
“We really hope in earnest that the legislators in Annapolis do the right thing,” Martin said, to make it possible for not just Sheffield but others in his situation to have their needs addressed at school. “We’re very honored to be a small part in this battle you’ve been fighting, and we’re behind you 100 percent.”
Havre de Grace Council President David Glenn said he felt the bill was aptly named.
“If I looked up courage in the dictionary, your picture should be right there all over it,” Glenn said. “You’re the unsung hero. You’re the inspiration.”
Councilman Jason Robertson said it was “pretty special” and the first time he had seen anything like this bring the council together outside its regularly scheduled meetings every other week for such a cause.
The vote to approve the resolution was unanimous, 6-0.
The Maryland Senate Education, Health, and Environment Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the house bill Tuesday, Feb. 18. The Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee will hold a hearing on the senate bill Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Source: https://patch.com/maryland/havredegrace/hdg-supports-teen-who-needs-medical-marijuana-school