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Mother Investigated After Opting For Marijuana Over Chemotherapy

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - A Colorado Springs mother says Human Services is investigating her family after her choice of treatment for her young son's cancer. She's decided on marijuana over chemotherapy.

Sierra Riddle says a case worker visited her earlier this week after a doctor threatened to report her. She told CBS4 Investigator Rick Sallinger she will fight for her son.

Riddle moved to Colorado to get access to the marijuana oil. It's cannabis oil without THC, the psychoactive part of pot. She says seeing is believing and no amount of pressure will change her mind.

A year ago Landon Riddle, 3, was diagnosed with leukemia. He underwent extensive chemotherapy and radiation and lost his hair. His mother observed his pain and stopped the treatments. They then moved to Colorado and began using oil capsules from marijuana plants.

Sallinger asked Riddle if she feels the marijuana has helped her son.

"Yes, a hundred times better, I mean a million times better," Riddle said.

She said just look at him then and now, cancer free, according to tests. But Riddle said a Colorado doctor reported her to Human Services for refusing chemotherapy for Landon.

"They are not only forcing me to do something against my will as a parent, they are forcing me to make my child sick," Riddle said.

This week Riddle said she was paid a visit by Human Services to their home in Colorado Springs investigating Landon's case.

"A report had been made that Landon was being refused treatment for his leukemia and that I had been a no-call no-show for 10 appointments," Riddle said.

She called the missed visits claim a blatant lie and insists whatever people say about marijuana, it has helped her child with the cancer now in remission.

"I just want to say, no matter what I am not going to give him chemo, but I'm not going to risk losing him either," Riddle said. "I'm not going to push it that far."

While treating a child with medical marijuana for cancer may sound unusual, it is not unique. There have been other cases around the country in what's become a controversy dubbed "pot for tots."

LINK: Offer Hope For Landon

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