For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Contact:  Rep. Paul Tittl

March 7, 2017                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 (608) 266-0315

Rep. Tittl votes to give patients hope
Manitowoc legislator shows his support for two initiatives giving patients access to treatment

Madison: State Representative Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc) is pleased to support legislation giving terminally-ill patients the right to try new treatments and allow individuals with medical conditions to possess CBD oil.

“Today we are standing up for people who need hope and access to potentially life-saving treatment,” said Tittl. “We have all watched loved ones suffer with serious diseases. This legislation will give those loved ones more options they didn’t have before.”

AB 69, known as Right to Try legislation, allows individuals with a terminal illness the access to investigational drugs, devices and other products after exhausting all other available treatment options. A recommendation from their doctor is also required and the person has to be ineligible or unable to participate in a clinical trial.

“I want families to have the peace of mind that they’ve done everything they could to help their loved ones,”  said Tittl. 

Right to Try leaves decisions about investigational treatments to patients and their doctors as long as those treatments have already passed the FDA’s Phase 1 safety testing.

“It might be too late by the time the FDA gives their final approval. This gives patients a chance,” Tittl said.

The Right to Try bill passed out of the Assembly and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

AB 49/SB 10 received its final legislative approval and is now headed to the governor for his signature. The bill allows patients with medical conditions to possess CBD oil, a non-hallucinogenic derivative of marijuana, with a doctor’s approval.

“CBD oil has been shown to help people who suffer from seizure disorders, and I’m pleased that soon the barrier to this treatment will be removed,” said Tittl. “We have many medications for many things, but some of these treatments come with serious side effects. CBD oil is just another option for patients and their families to consider.”

The CBD oil legislation easily passed out of the Assembly on a bipartisan vote. The next Assembly floor session is on Thursday.

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