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In light of recent events, I have an aching in my soul to speak up about something that hits very close to home to my family.

Many people around the world have been grieving the loss of singer, songwriter, and lead vocalist of the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, Chris Cornell.
There is speculation of exactly what caused his death, and whether or not he intentionally ended his life.
But one thing is certain, Chris was prescribed a pharmaceutical medication to treat his anxiety. The drug that I am referring to is called Ativan.

Ativan is a highly addictive sedative belonging to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. It is the name brand of lorazepam. It is not meant for long term use. This goes for all benzodiazepines, that are only meant to be taken for short periods of time in small doses.

The side effects of benzodiazepines can range from shaking to slurred speech, and in high doses it causes respiratory failure. It can also result in suicidal thoughts, impairment of cognition, and altered mental status.

Why am I sharing this on our page? Ativan is one of the pharmaceutical medications that was prescribed and given to my daughter following her diagnosis of refractory epilepsy.
She was one year old the first time this medication was given to her. This is a photo of my baby by the time she was two, shortly before our move to Colorado to obtain legal medicinal cannabis for her seizures.
Ativan is a go-to method used by the medical establishment for intractable epilepsy for children, as a rescue medication used to stop seizures lasting over five minutes.
My daughter was given this drug more times than I can count as a "rescue medication".
But on a daily basis- she was also prescribed a drug called diazepam (Valium) and a drug called onfi. Both of these were given to her three times a day, in high doses. Both of these are also benzodiazepines.

Let me tell you what happens to a small child that takes benzodiazepines.
Development comes to a hault. Respiratory rate and blood oxygen levels must be closely monitored to make sure the child isn't slowly dying. On these medications, my child couldnt lift her arm. She was floppy like a doll. She couldn't keep her eyes open. She couldn't move her head. She lost the ability to eat and had to have a feeding tube placed in her stomach.
Although it is very clear that these medications are not for long term use as it is not a sustainable option for a human being to consume these medications every few hours, every single day, that is what is happening to children all around the world like my Nova.
And for parents like us, you can not refuse drugging your child with these medications, or it will be considered medical neglect. You will have your child taken away from you.
Once they are put on these drugs, the majority of these children will never get to come off of them. They are on them for the rest of their lives. And for some of these children, just like Chris, they remain on these medications until the day they leave this earth because they are unable to stop taking them.

My daughter has taught me many important lessons in her five years of life on this earth. One of those lessons is something that I am very passionate about sharing with the world. There IS a safe and effective option aside from these horrible pharmaceutical medications that are killing people EVERY DAY. It is called cannabis.

It helped my sweet little girl with her seizures and it helps people who suffer from anxiety or depression that are led to believe that pills like benzodiazepines are safe. It helps people with muscle spasms and aching bodies, that are also given benzodiazepines. It helps countless other kids like Novaleigh, who would have otherwise been seizing or on countless pills for the rest of her life that even doctors will admit, are NOT safe.

People are so quick to say that they have a problem with cannabis. But do they also have a problem with doctors giving one year olds onfi, Ativan, diazepam and Valium?

People seem to have a problem with cannabis, but do they also have a problem with people like Chris taking these drugs that without a doubt, contributed to his untimely death?

Do they have a problem with people being addicted and dependent on these medications for injured muscles or spasms, and suffering the consequences that these pills come with?

Withdrawals from benzodiazepines are worse than heroin withdrawals. If you try to stop taking these medications, you can seize to death or develop suicidal thoughts that can very easily take your life from you.

People will say that folks like myself, are crazy. We are nuts to think that there is a safer and natural option like cannabis that can help with so many illnesses. But do you want to know what I think is crazy? People with an an entire life ahead of them, being killed every single day from medications such as benzos.

Prohibition is hurting children and adults alike. This is an indisputable fact that needs to be addressed. This is not acceptable to me and I am angry for each and every person who has been affected by these "medications."

There is a better way, and people shouldn't be afraid to use cannabis instead. Parents shouldn't be forced to choose between their child seizing, or becoming less present and more addicted until they die. And you know what? Someone like Chris should still be walking this earth.

Something needs to change.