Robert Celt
New Member
Latrisha Bentch, a mother of a sick child who has spent more than two years pushing for medical marijuana, hopes the delays are finally over, and that Tuesday is her last gut-wrenching night.
The state Senate on Tuesday voted 42-7 in favor of a legalization bill that, because it was amended yet again, must make another trip to the House. Bentch and other supporters hope it will be the final vote, and that it comes Wednesday and no later.
"I just hope they do the right thing and not waste another day," the Dauphin County resident said after the vote. "There are too many lives hanging in the balance. They have got to realize that stalling this any further is deeply hurting people."
A spokesman for House leaders said Tuesday that as long as the Senate changes aren't substantial, the House "could take it up as early as tomorrow." Gov. Tom Wolf after the vote urged the House to quickly pass the bill, SB 3, so he can sign it into law and make Pennsylvania one of two dozen states which have legalized medical marijuana.
Bentch said supporters will rally at the Capitol on Wednesday to make sure House members appreciate the urgency.
Bentch, like many other supporters, wants medical marijuana for a child with disabling seizures. Other major supporters include veterans dealing with post traumatic stress disorder and cancer patients dealing with pain and loss of appetite.
Speaking before the vote, state Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, the primary sponsor, gave this endorsement to the amended bill. He said the changes involved close collaboration with House leaders and they are on board with them.
He characterized them as "technical" and language changes that will ensure the medical marijuana law can implemented smoothly and in a "timely manner." Supporters from the beginning have expected it will take 18 to 24 months after final passage to provide medical marijuana to patients.
Folmer told Senate members "it is not a perfect bill, but it is one that will work to bring medical marijuana to Pennsylvania in a timely manner."
Just before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Bellfonte, became emotional while speaking about Folmer's long effort to persuade Senate colleagues to support legalization. Corman noted that at first, few Republicans, including Corman were in favor. But Folmer worked "one by one" to change hearts and minds. "I would say we're making history today," Corman said, adding that "I hope and pray" the bill will give relief to people in need of medical marijuana.
The bill would allow medical marijuana to be used to treat more than a dozen conditions, including seizures, PTSD, chronic pain, HIV/AIDs, glaucoma, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, autism and additional neurological and gastrointestinal conditions.
Medical marijuana would be regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, but a separate board within the department would devise regulations and be responsible for things such as adjusting the list of conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana, and adjusting consumption methods.
Medical marijuana could be dispensed in forms including pills, creams, oils, liquids and forms that can be vaporized, but smoking of medical marijuana isn't allowed.
The state would initially license up to 25 growers/processors and and 50 dispensaries, with each dispensary allowed to have up to three locations. Medical marijuana would be taxed five percent at the wholesale level, and there would be a program to make sure it's affordable for the poor.
Medical marijuana will have to grown within indoor, highly secure facilities. Patients, after a recommendation from their doctor, would need-state issued cards, as would their caregivers. Doctors and others in the prescribing and dispensing process will have to undergo training.
Tweaks approved by the Senate include one enabling patients to get a refill during the last seven days of their previous 30-day supply. Another would allow dispensaries to apply for exceptions to a provision that prevents them from operating within 1,000 feet of a school, with the exception intended to overcome the fact a buffer of that size might not be possible in densely-developed urban areas such as Philadelphia.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Will Wednesday Finally Bring End To Long PA Medical Marijuana Fight?
Author: David Wenner
Contact: PennLive
Photo Credit: Trevor Hughes
Website: PennLive
The state Senate on Tuesday voted 42-7 in favor of a legalization bill that, because it was amended yet again, must make another trip to the House. Bentch and other supporters hope it will be the final vote, and that it comes Wednesday and no later.
"I just hope they do the right thing and not waste another day," the Dauphin County resident said after the vote. "There are too many lives hanging in the balance. They have got to realize that stalling this any further is deeply hurting people."
A spokesman for House leaders said Tuesday that as long as the Senate changes aren't substantial, the House "could take it up as early as tomorrow." Gov. Tom Wolf after the vote urged the House to quickly pass the bill, SB 3, so he can sign it into law and make Pennsylvania one of two dozen states which have legalized medical marijuana.
Bentch said supporters will rally at the Capitol on Wednesday to make sure House members appreciate the urgency.
Bentch, like many other supporters, wants medical marijuana for a child with disabling seizures. Other major supporters include veterans dealing with post traumatic stress disorder and cancer patients dealing with pain and loss of appetite.
Speaking before the vote, state Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, the primary sponsor, gave this endorsement to the amended bill. He said the changes involved close collaboration with House leaders and they are on board with them.
He characterized them as "technical" and language changes that will ensure the medical marijuana law can implemented smoothly and in a "timely manner." Supporters from the beginning have expected it will take 18 to 24 months after final passage to provide medical marijuana to patients.
Folmer told Senate members "it is not a perfect bill, but it is one that will work to bring medical marijuana to Pennsylvania in a timely manner."
Just before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Bellfonte, became emotional while speaking about Folmer's long effort to persuade Senate colleagues to support legalization. Corman noted that at first, few Republicans, including Corman were in favor. But Folmer worked "one by one" to change hearts and minds. "I would say we're making history today," Corman said, adding that "I hope and pray" the bill will give relief to people in need of medical marijuana.
The bill would allow medical marijuana to be used to treat more than a dozen conditions, including seizures, PTSD, chronic pain, HIV/AIDs, glaucoma, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, autism and additional neurological and gastrointestinal conditions.
Medical marijuana would be regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, but a separate board within the department would devise regulations and be responsible for things such as adjusting the list of conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana, and adjusting consumption methods.
Medical marijuana could be dispensed in forms including pills, creams, oils, liquids and forms that can be vaporized, but smoking of medical marijuana isn't allowed.
The state would initially license up to 25 growers/processors and and 50 dispensaries, with each dispensary allowed to have up to three locations. Medical marijuana would be taxed five percent at the wholesale level, and there would be a program to make sure it's affordable for the poor.
Medical marijuana will have to grown within indoor, highly secure facilities. Patients, after a recommendation from their doctor, would need-state issued cards, as would their caregivers. Doctors and others in the prescribing and dispensing process will have to undergo training.
Tweaks approved by the Senate include one enabling patients to get a refill during the last seven days of their previous 30-day supply. Another would allow dispensaries to apply for exceptions to a provision that prevents them from operating within 1,000 feet of a school, with the exception intended to overcome the fact a buffer of that size might not be possible in densely-developed urban areas such as Philadelphia.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Will Wednesday Finally Bring End To Long PA Medical Marijuana Fight?
Author: David Wenner
Contact: PennLive
Photo Credit: Trevor Hughes
Website: PennLive
