On Thursday, there was a strong reaction to a report that Auburn walk-on C.J. Harris was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for the use of cannabis oil, which he uses to treat his epilepsy.

Twitter didn’t think very much of the NCAA’s decision to not make an exception for Harris’ atypical situation.

On Friday, the Epilepsy Foundation released a statement in response to the NCAA’s decision:

The Epilepsy Foundation is committed to supporting physician-directed care, and to exploring and advocating for all potential treatment options for epilepsy, including cannabidiol (CBD) oil and medical cannabis. We support safe, legal access to medical cannabis and CBD if a patient and their health care team feel that the potential benefits of medical cannabis or CBD for uncontrolled epilepsy outweigh the risks. While we believe further research is needed on the effects of medical cannabis on epilepsy, when recommended by a treating physician, medical cannabis may be the best alternative for some individuals living with drug-resistant epilepsy and uncontrolled seizures.

Not everyone with epilepsy should or would consider CBD/medical cannabis as a treatment option, and further research is needed on the connection between cannabis and seizures. In the case of C.J. Harris, it is unfortunate that he is not being allowed to play college football. We do not know the history of C.J.’s seizures and do not have specific details about his medical treatment plan, therefore we can’t comment specifically on his use of CBD to control his seizures.

We urge the NCAA to review their existing guidelines on THC and explore possible exceptions to allow players under medical treatment, like C.J., the ability to fulfill their dreams of playing college football. We hope the NCAA would reconsider their decision and assess C.J. on his character and talent as a football player.

–Phil Gattone, President and CEO, Epilepsy Foundation

According to WGXA, the Warner Robins, Ga. native had 17 seizures before he started taking the medication in Jan. 2017. He has yet to have one since.

It remains to be seen if the NCAA will actually do the right thing here. Perhaps with some urging from the Epilepsy Foundation, the NCAA will back off its ruling and declare Harris eligible.

CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee, who suffers from epilepsy, provided some context on the cannabidiol and why it isn’t marijuana: