He 's only 3 years old , but Landon Riddle is already the focus of a medical marijuana fight in Colorado . Landon has acute lymphocytic leukemia , or ALL , a cancer of the blood and bone marrow . It 's the most common cancer in children . His mother says his condition has improved so much following treatment with medical marijuana that chemotherapy is n't needed . But the Children 's Hospital of Colorado , she says , disagreed . It all started back in September 2012 . Landon , then 2 , was living with his mother , Sierra Riddle , in St. George , Utah , when he developed a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes . The emergency room doctor said it was a virus and sent him home . Two days later he went back . His armpits were swollen . `` They thought it was either a virus or infection in the lymph nodes , so they gave him some antibiotics , '' Sierra Riddle says . But on the fifth day , his mother says she was changing his diaper and noticed his groin was also swollen , as well as his abdomen and throat . He was having trouble breathing . That time , she got a frightening diagnosis : cancer . New York governor announces plan for medical marijuana at hospitals . Landon was flown to a children 's hospital in Salt Lake City . `` His whole chest was full of leukemia tumors , which is why he could n't breathe , '' his mother says . `` They started him on chemo , but told us that he probably was n't going to make it . '' Landon 's cancer had quickly progressed , leading doctors to give him an 8 % chance of survival , she says . In general , ALL is one of the most curable cancers . According to the American Cancer Society , more than 90 % of children diagnosed with the disease survive . Chemotherapy is the standard treatment , and Riddle says doctors put Landon on a four-year treatment plan . The first two months of chemo went fairly well , but then Landon became extremely ill. `` Most days he could n't get off the couch , '' Riddle remembers . `` He would just lay there and throw up and throw up . '' Riddle says he also developed neuropathy -- a symptom of nerve damage that can cause weakness , numbness and pain -- in his legs that left him barely able to walk . Around that time , a friend set up a Facebook page called Offer Hope for Landon , and recommendations started streaming in , including several endorsing cannabis -- medical marijuana -- as a treatment . Medical marijuana , however , is n't legal in Utah . Still , desperate for answers , Sierra Riddle and her mother , Wendy Riddle , started looking into it . They considered going to California or Oregon . Then their research led them to the Stanley brothers in Colorado . The six brothers are one of that state 's biggest cannabis growers and dispensary owners . The Stanleys produce about 500 pounds of medical marijuana a year . At the time , much of it was high in THC -- tetrahydrocannabinol , the psychoactive ingredient in pot that gets users high but also helps patients with an array of conditions including pain and nausea . But the Stanleys were also growing something quite revolutionary : a plant cross-bred to reduce the THC and increase another compound found in cannabis called cannabidiol , or CBD . Many researchers believe CBD is one of the compounds in marijuana that has medicinal benefits . According to the National Cancer Institute , it 's thought to have significant analgesic , anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity without the psychoactive effect . The Stanleys expect to produce over 1,000 pounds this year , most of it the cross-bred variety , according to Joel Stanley . Dr. Sanjay Gupta : Why I changed my mind on weed . Riddle , herself a recovering heroin addict , struggled with the idea of giving Landon marijuana . `` I was telling my mom , you know , 'We really need to think about this . ' '' But , says Riddle , her son was already prescribed medications like OxyContin and morphine -- medications with significant side effects . Landon suffered from stomach failure , and `` the OxyContin made him so miserable , when he had hair , he would literally try to pull his hair out . '' In the end , she decided she had nothing else to lose and moved to Colorado . She rented a room , got Landon 's medical marijuana card and began giving him marijuana -- THC for the pain and nausea , but also CBD . The dose was based on Landon 's weight . He first took it in oil form , but now takes a pill . Once the doses started , `` Landon 's ( red and white blood cell ) counts increased dramatically , '' she says . Six months later , encouraged by Landon 's progress , she stopped his chemotherapy treatments completely . `` Once I took the chemo out , I see these amazing results . And no more need for blood transfusion and platelet transfusions , '' Riddle says . `` I think that the chemo in combination with the cannabis did put him into remission and now the cannabis will keep him there . '' But Landon 's doctor at the Children 's Hospital of Colorado was shocked . `` She told me with no uncertainty that if I refused chemo , she would have no choice but to report me to the proper authorities , '' Riddle says . So Riddle found a lawyer willing to take her case . `` Nobody wants to hurt Landon here , '' says attorney Warren Edson . `` This is about making him better . We have no problem making sure he 's monitored throughout this process . And again , if there 's any indication this is doing him harm , I ca n't imagine Sierra doing anything other than the right thing . '' Medical marijuana helps stem 6-year-old 's seizures . Children 's Hospital Colorado , in a statement , says it is `` committed to protecting the well-being of our patients . '' The hospital says it can not discuss specific cases , but provided information from Dr. Stephen Hunger , director of the hospital 's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders . Hunger noted that childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease among American children ; that about 25 % of childhood cancers are ALL ; and that the survival rate for children with ALL treated by Children 's Oncology Group research trials is over 90 % , attained with two to three years of chemotherapy . Children 's Hospital Colorado is `` one of the largest centers in the country that treats children with ALL , '' the statement says . `` The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children 's Hospital Colorado has always done its best to work closely with families to provide the most appropriate treatment for cancer , while also seeking to minimize side effects and maximize quality of life . `` Today , chemotherapy is a required part of therapy for children with leukemia . Many supportive care medications are used in children and adults with cancer , including those considered to be complementary and alternative medicine ( also referred to as integrative health ) . `` Marijuana or a product derived from marijuana is often used to decrease side effects in adults with cancer , '' the hospital says . `` There are several FDA-approved and commercially available anti-nausea medicines derived from marijuana ( cannabinoids ) that are frequently used by adults and children with cancer , and we often prescribe these medications . '' In an effort to stave off a legal wrangle , Riddle , her mother and Edson met with the doctors in charge of Landon 's care in October . `` They said they were willing to work with us . They said they were willing to alter the chemo plan , and they did not , '' Riddle says . Child protective services -- which Riddle says had already been notified and visited the family 's home -- was also at the meeting , along with Dr. Margaret Gedde , who wrote Landon 's original prescription for marijuana and is monitoring his care . `` I could see a large gulf between the doctors who were making the point this is a fatal disease -- 'You know , he needs this treatment to survive , ' and pretty much that was their stance , '' says Gedde . `` The family wanted to discuss more alternative modes of treatment and really things that would n't make him so sick , but again , the doctors being convinced that really it had to be done the way that they were used to it ( being done ) -- that just made it very much really a confrontation there of two different mindsets . I felt sympathetic to both . '' Child protection officials declined comment on the case . The American Cancer Society , meanwhile , cautions that cannabinoids have not been tested in humans to determine if they can lower cancer risk . `` There are many challenges with marijuana research as it relates to cancer , '' the organization says in a statement . `` While it shows promise for controlling cancer pain among some patients , there is still concern that marijuana may cause toxic side effects in some people and that the benefits of THC must be carefully weighed against its potential risks . There is no available scientific evidence from controlled studies in humans that cannabinoids can cure or treat cancer . '' Is medical marijuana safe for children ? For now , Landon is still in remission with no sign of recurrence . Still , Gedde is cautious and says she ca n't recommend cannabis over chemo . `` When you look at children who go through that same course of treatment and compare Landon to them , it seems like he 's doing better than what would be expected , '' she says . `` I 'm very hopeful and very encouraged that the CBD is probably having a beneficial effect for him , but I think we 're still looking to have the disease course play out and find out . I think in cancer , you do n't really know until later . '' Meanwhile , Edson says child protection officials have not yet filed a case . `` We will continue to monitor Landon 's health , make sure he 's getting the proper blood tests and other checks to see what 's going on with him healthwise , '' he says . In December , Sierra Riddle notified Landon 's doctors that she plans to transfer his care . She 's searching for a physician willing to work with her to reduce the amount of steroids and chemotherapy he takes . Wendy Riddle says they have no regrets and will continue to fight . `` It 's not just fighting for Landon . It 's not just about him , it 's about all of the kids to come , '' she says . `` When Landon is 15 years old and we talk about this , I want Landon to know that we did everything in our power to be compassionate in his care and to protect him . ''
Landon Riddle has acute lymphocytic leukemia . His mom stopped chemo after seeing improvement from medical marijuana . Hospital officials , she says , threatened to report her to authorities . Landon is in remission and doing well , Sierra Riddle says .