Calling for the legalization of medical marijuana isn’t something I had ever seriously considered, but that has changed now that I have a young friend suffering from a medical condition that has left her in a wheelchair from a lifetime of seizures. Anna has endured surgeries and has taken various drugs and medications, but none has been successful, and all have had negative side effects. But now there’s a new treatment that brings her and her family hope.

The treatment is known as “Charlotte’s Web” (or CBD). It’s an oil extracted from the marijuana plant, and children suffering from conditions like Anna’s have already benefited from it. In fact this treatment is named after Charlotte Figi, a five-year-old girl who went from having hundreds of seizures a week, to about one or two a year; she went from being confined to a wheelchair, to riding a bike.

Now lawmakers are beginning realize the need to change the law for children like Anna. Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania has voiced his support and has indicated that he plans to push for legislation legalizing the growth of marijuana for medical purposes. But there’s still a lot of work to do and other lawmakers to convince.

That’s why friends and family of Anna have been rallying around her the past few weeks. You see, today is Anna’s birthday, and she has a birthday wish: that she would be able to receive this treatment at her home in Pennsylvania. If legislation doesn’t come through for her, she and her family will be forced to split apart so that she can receive the treatment she needs in Colorado- a state where marijuana is legal.

We want to see Anna to not only survive into adulthood, but to thrive! We want to see her playing with her friends like she used to and enjoy what’s left of her childhood. Today her friends gathered together in prayer and support, signing cards that will be delivered to various lawmakers in Pennsylvania.

Please take a look at some of the following links to learn more about the great need to legalize marijuana for medical purposes and help children like Anna. Even Dr. Sanjay Gupta has weighed in on the issue with his own documentary.

A blog post over at Joyverflow provided support for young Anna, as did a local news report on Channel 21 News. There were also articles in Today.com and creativevisions providing support for the use of medical marijuana. There’s still work to do, and we could use your help.