Rose Renton, who fought for her son Alex to be treated with CBD oil, is facing up to 14 years' jail for cannabis offences.
Renton appeared in the Nelson District Court on Tuesday, facing three charges for cultivating, processing and supplying cannabis.
She entered no plea in court but outside court, she had a plea for the Government: "Listen to your people."
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She entered no plea in court but outside court, she had a plea for the Government: "Listen to your people."
Renton began campaigning for medicinal cannabis in 2015 as her son Alex suffered severe seizures, battling to have him treated with Elixinol, cannabidiol (CBD) oil available and legal in the United States.
Her case drew the public eye and Alex eventually made history as the first New Zealander to be granted an exemption and treated with CBD product. He died a month later.
Renton later revealed to Newshub's 3D programme that she had been secretly treating Alex with the oil for weeks before it was officially approved.
Renton's lawyer told Newshub this will be a landmark case.
"As far as I'm aware there have been no cases before court where decisions about medicinal cannabis have been made under the law and certainly no jury trials on that."
Since Alex's case, restrictions were eased on cannabis-derived products, which came into force this September.
Doctors can now prescribe cannabidiol products like any other medicine, however it isn't covered by any funding subsidies and faces strict import and export regulations. Few products meet the standard and those that do are expensive.
"One family were quoted of between $40,000 and $100,000 a year for their child's epilepsy," Renton said.
Renton is due to appear in court again next month.
Newshub.
