WOODWAY, TX — CBD oil is one step closer to being legalized in Texas after it cleared the House last month.
On Thursday, the bill was considered in a public hearing by the Senate.
House Bill 1325 from state Rep. Tracy King would legalize hemp and hemp-derived extracts like CBD oil. The bill would also legalize the farming of industrial hemp. Marijuana would still be illegal.
Mona Mervyn began giving her daughter CBD oil in 2016.
Her daughter, Shae Gipson, has been on medication for the majority of her life.
"When she was very little, she was more like an autistic child and had a hard time handling things during the day, so we started treating her with medication probably by the age of three," Mervyn said.
By the age of five, Shae was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome. Rett Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that leads to severe impairments, affecting a child's ability to speak, walk, eat and even breathe easily.
When Shae turned 22, Mervyn noticed her health and well-being were starting to decline.
"She was sleeping 20 out of 24 hours a day and I thought, that's just not healthy," Mervyn said.
Mervyn began looking at alternative, natural medicine to help her daughter. She swapped her long, costly list of pharmaceuticals for CBD oil. She's noticed a major improvement since.
"See how her hands are still? When a child has Rett Syndrome, they almost always ring their hands. Now, she's more relaxed and calm and just be herself," Mervyn said.
Mervyn said since Shae started using CBD oil, she's had fewer seizures.
"As we've had her off the medicine, her body has acclimated to just taking the CBD oil," Mervyn said. "She's so much better, able to get out and do things again. She loves to swim."
The defining moment came on Mervyn's birthday two years ago.
"And all of a sudden, she got this big smile on her face and she said 'I love you,'" Mervyn said. "That was the first time in my life that my child had been able to tell me she loves me. That was big."
As House Bill 1325 continues to make strides, Mervyn is more hopeful than ever that other families will be able to experience this type of joy.
"I can't even explain to you how far she's come," Mervyn said. "How far she's going to go."
Mervyn said this treatment has reinforced her belief in miracles.
"I'll never quit hoping that she'll be just like you and I," Mervyn said.
Mervyn said she's written letters to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and several senators. She also plans on sitting down with Rep. Doc Anderson once he's out of session to talk more about natural medicine.
Mervyn also has a mobile CBD store that carries a wide variety of products that contain CBD, including pet products, coffee, bath bombs, gummies and lollipops. Hemp Street Market can be found at the Waco Farmer's Market.
To view House Bill 1325, click here.
To learn more about Rett Syndrome, click here.
