LOCAL NEWS

Prop 2 Is Life-Changing For Prominent Utah Family

Nov 29, 2018, 8:42 PM | Updated: 8:55 pm

PROVO, Utah – Utah legislators plan to work out specifics of medical marijuana in a compromise bill after voters approved Proposition 2 this month, and the outcome will be life-changing for a prominent Utah family.

Life in the Campbell home in Provo is never boring. Connor Campbell, age 11, requires a lot of patience.

“I’ve felt since he was born that it’s not a mistake that he is the way he is,” said Emilie Campbell, Connor’s mother. “He’s hurt everyone in the family. We all have scars. Everything is broken.”

His father, Branden Campbell, is often touring with his band Neon Trees.

“Parenting Connor is not a spectator sport,” he said.

Much of Connor’s care when he’s away falls to Emilie.

“She’s super mom,” Branden said.

“It’s medication, just like anything else,” says Branden Campbell, bass guitarist with the band Neon Trees. Medical marijuana is the only medication that prevents their son’s seizures.

“It’s medication, just like anything else,” says Branden Campbell, bass guitarist with the band Neon Trees. Medical marijuana is the only medication that prevents their son’s seizures.

“It’s exhausting,” Emilie said. “When Connor is home, it is non-stop hyper-vigilance, totally all hands on deck. There’s no sitting, no relaxing.”

Branden joked, “We’re actually 25 years old; we just look 40.”

Connor had been having seizures every day since birth.

“Connor has intractable refractory idiopathic catastrophic epilepsy, all those big words,” Emilie said. “He also has autism.”

Those seizures have only gotten worse, causing him to miss months of school.

“He’s been on over 10 anti-seizure medications.”

Branden and Emilie Campbell at home in Provo say they're relieved medical marijuana will soon be legal in Utah. Their 11-year-old son, Connor, has severe autism and epilepsy.

Branden and Emilie Campbell at home in Provo say they’re relieved medical marijuana will soon be legal in Utah. Their 11-year-old son, Connor, has severe autism and epilepsy.

After exhausting every resource, they found what works.

“We still have a few months before we’re really legal,” Emilie said, adding that medical marijuana controls his seizures. “It’s such a small amount and he takes it once a day.”

In the past, the Campbells have been active in advocating for change. However, the paradigm shift in how people think of marijuana is ongoing.

“We’ve had people ask, ‘Oh, so this is like Cheech and Chong for your kids?” Branden said. “And it was like, ‘No, our kid who can’t even put on his shoes or change his pants or use the bathroom isn’t going to sit and roll a joint.’”

Connor is improving at school.

“They said for the first time today that he was typing his name, and they just see him paying attention and tuning in,” Branden said.

For the Campbells, the passage of Prop 2 is a huge relief. Soon, if Connor requires care in the emergency room, medical cannabis may be a treatment option. They’ll also no longer have to worry about possible prosecution.

“To see it happen, and for Utah to come through, really was awesome. It felt like a total win,” Emilie said.

“It’s medicine,” Branden added. “Just like anything else.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Man being taken on stretcher to an ambulance figures blurred...

Lauren Steinbrecher

West Jordan man trying ‘to be funny’ allegedly shot and killed best friend

Investigators believe a joke between friends turned into the shooting death of a West Jordan man. The fatal mistake is also turning into a message police hope every gun owner can hear.

6 hours ago

Matt Gephardt meeting with Denis Hawkins after a rental car company after they ignored his calls fo...

Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps Spanish Fork man clear up insurance claim for rental car damage

Get Gephardt clears up an international rental car insurance standstill.

6 hours ago

small housing units...

Debbie Worthen

Utah’s micro-shelter pilot program gets extension to help homeless

A micro-shelter pilot program will stay in place for at least six more months.

6 hours ago

A trench used for training a team of firefighters to be a part of Utah County's Special Response Te...

Shelby Lofton

Heavy Rescue school students respond to real-life emergency during trench collapse training

A team of firefighter students training to be on a Special Response Team rescued a man buried in a trench collapse the week they'd been studying trenches.

6 hours ago

The Cache County Council took up the e-mail controversy...

Mike Anderson

A single text stirs political fallout in Cache County election

A text message is blowing up into a whole lot of political fallout in Cache County.

7 hours ago

A map shows where the Chief Toquer reservoir will connect to the Ash Creek Reservoir....

Cary Schwanitz

Feds pour $7 million into southern Utah water pipeline project

A project to build a new pipeline that will run from the Ash Creek Reservoir to the Chief Toquer Reservoir received $7 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

8 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Prop 2 Is Life-Changing For Prominent Utah Family