Illegal: A Documentary about Brazilian Mothers who Save Their Children Thanks to Marijuana

"Because under the law I cannot have something that benefits my daughter so much, I am a drug trafficker. There is no another word; it's trafficking." These are the words of Katiele, one of the Brazilian mothers who have been forced to resort to the black market for the cannabis that eases the pain of her daughter, who suffers from severe epilepsy.

Journalist Tarso Araujo has gathered their testimony, and that of other mothers who wanted to participate in the documentary Illegal: Life Doesn't Wait, presented in conjunction with Expocannabis2014, an event for marijuana and hemp aficionados held this week in Uruguay.

Araujo has been conducting research into psychoactive and illegal drugs since 2006. During these investigations he met Katiele, a Brazilian woman willing to do everything possible to alleviate her girl's pain.

This brave mother told him that a marijuana by-product had spared her daughter from the 80 attacks per day she used to suffer. Even though she is only looking out for her daughter's well-being, Katiele is defying Brazilian law. Araujo was so moved by this story that he decided that he had to capture it on film, to protest the plight of these mothers, who are forced to obtain marijuana illegally in order to treat their children.

The mothers' struggle even gave rise to a campaign, "Repense" ("Rethink"), which has swept across Brazil, calling for the regulation of therapeutic cannabis. "The documentary is not just about medicinal marijuana, but about a mother's love for her daughter, citizens fighting for their rights, and an example of how people can change things," explained Araujo.

The film premiered in October in Brazil, and is currently being shown in Uruguay. You can read all the information on this documentary here.