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Family: Medical marijuana bill too late for dying child

ATLANTA — Jagger Cotte is three years old and has a rare mitochondrial disorder which causes him to suffer from seizures.  His parents, Sebastien and Annete, care for him.

His doctors have given the little boy, who takes 19 medications and 34 doses a day, just months to live.

Sebastien Cotte told Channel 2's Lori Geary that he is still fighting the political battle over legalizing medical marijuana in the form of cannabis oil here in Georgia.

Gov. Nathan Deal’s office says they want to find ways to help children and families like Jagger’s while maintaining a delicate balance with federal laws and federal agencies. However, these families point out states like South Carolina, Florida and Alabama passed medical marijuana laws and they now accuse Deal of playing politics with their kids.

“It should be a common sense, human rights issue,” said Cotte.

Cotte has said goodbye to several friends who moved to Colorado to get their kids cannabis oil because it is legal there, but they can't come home because Georgia lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would give them immunity from prosecution.

“It is an emotional issue,” said Deal.

This week, Deal traveled to Augusta to talk about GW Pharmaceuticals, which is launching expanded clinical trials of cannabis oil for kids who suffer from severe seizure disorders.

But, Deal also said he doesn't want to pass any legislation that would interfere with those trials.

“All of these things are very delicate as to relationships with federal agencies to make sure we don't do something at the state level. Of all things we don't want to interfere with GWP going forward with their product,” said Deal.

Cotte said he wants Deal to focus on giving a real solution, and not a drug trial that will happen regardless of what he does.

“He's the leader of the state of Georgia. These are his people.  He's failing. He's failing all the families in Colorado,” said Cotte.

Cotte says when Jagger is well enough, the family will pack up, knowing Colorado may not offer a cure, but it could offer comfort for the time Jagger has left.