“Is that OK?” she yells to partner Rhett, as her young daughter snatches a bottle from her brother.

“It’s fine,” Rhett replies, swooping down and plucking the bottle back.

Their concern over the contents of the bottle are well-founded.

The couple’s three-year-old son, Cooper, is fed cannabis oil three times a day with his milk.

Staunchly anti-drugs, the Melbourne parents’ journey to medical marijuana has been both heart-breaking and life-affirming.

At four weeks old, Cooper contracted bacterial meningitis, leaving him with a catalogue of health issues, including severe brain damage, epilepsy and cerebral palsy.

Doctors warned he was unlikely to live beyond two after an EEG revealed he was suffering a seizure almost every minute.

With nothing to lose, the family took a leap of faith and began using cannabis oil.

Two weeks later, an EEG showed no signs of seizures.

Theirs is a story too compelling to ignore – and it’s not isolated.

Hundreds of desperate parents across the nation are breaking the law and sourcing cannabis oil on the black market to treat children with severe seizures.

The risk of prosecution means little when your child’s life is on the line.

That basic truth stands in sharp contrast to the position of state governments around Australia, which have demanded more clinical trials before legislating in favour of medical marijuana.

More trials despite the fact hundreds have already run successfully overseas, despite the fact conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott sees no need for them, despite the fact children and adults are dying without dignity because they can’t legally access a drug that could help.

Today, Cooper’s parents will be among the throng of doctors, lawyers, politicians, police and journalists at the Inaugural Australian Medical Marijuana Symposium at TRECC.

Their fervent hope is this: that the politicians in attendance, including NSW Premier Mike Baird, listen to the experts and put compassion before politics.

Their son’s life may depend on it.