British Columbia

Baby Mary Jane Pierce, at centre of cannabis oil treatment battle, dies

The severely ill baby whose parents attempted to treat her with cannabis oil has died of natural causes, the B.C. Coroners Service has confirmed.

B.C. Coroners Service says the baby died Friday of natural causes

Mary Jane Pierce was born prematurely in April at 25 weeks, and had severe health issues. She died Friday of natural causes in a Vancouver hospital following a battle by her parents to treat her with cannabis oil. (Justin Pierce)

The severely ill baby whose parents attempted to treat her with cannabis oil has died of natural causes, the B.C. Coroners Service says.

Mary Jane Pierce was born prematurely in April at 25 weeks with serious health problems, including brain bleeding, cerebral palsy and severe seizures.

Justin Pierce and Michelle Arnold had fought to treat her symptoms with cannabis oil. The oil, they said, had helped them with their own epilepsy issues. 

The B.C. Coroners Service said the baby died Friday at B.C. Children's Hospital. 

The parents had won a temporary injunction to keep the infant on life support. At the time, Mary Jane was in the care of an agency under the province's Ministry of Children and Family Development.

The parents dropped their court action to treat their daughter with cannabis oil in September because she appeared to be recovering.

With files from The Canadian Press