Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
When Les Stark of the Keystone Cannabis Coalition organized a rally in Wilkes-Barre last year, he was excited at the prospect of new state laws on medical cannabis and industrial hemp.
He's still waiting, but the status of marijuana in Pennsylvania may be changing. Several bills are moving through the state Legislature. Stark, of Exeter Township in Berks County, is confident that when he organizes an event next year in the city, medical cannabis and farmed hemp will be legal in the state.
One bill regarding medical use of marijuana is currently in the House of Representatives Rules Committee. Until it comes back, Stark and other advocates of the plant don't know what the legislation will say. He is worried it will be a weaker bill with more restrictions than he would prefer, but if it changes the law in the only state in the northeast without medical marijuana, he'll take it.
"It will still help people," he said.
The Keystone Cannabis Coalition and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Cannabis Network organized Saturday's marijuana-advocacy event in Kirby Park. Attendees heard from speakers advocating changes to state law or describing how marijuana had changed their lives. At a table under the park pavilion, buttons, history books, soaps and shirts were for sale. There was even a mustard from Lancaster County with hemp seeds on the ingredient list.
Stark has other legislative goals. He's eventually like to see legalization in the state. For now, he said he plans to talk to city councils in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton to urge them to support decriminalization measures in their cities.
Laura Joe Kincaid, 35, of LeRaysville said she's been advocating for marijuana since her mother took her to protests in Washington, D.C., as a child. She's hosting her own advocacy rally on Sept. 26 in Towanda.
Since moving to Pennsylvania about seven years ago, she's noticed a change in attitudes from the public and state legislators.
"Now, legislators are willing to have the conversation," she said.
Kincaid will honor her friend Rita Dennis at her event. Dennis used to lived in Kingston but moved to California about four years ago when she had health problems. Her children convinced her to try a cannabis concentrate, which she credited with improving her health.
Dennis uses cannabis oil most nights in California. If the laws are changed in her home state, she plans to move back to Bradford County, where she grew up.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana Supporters See Reasons For Optimism
Author: Bill Wellock
Photo Credit: Dave Scherbencko
Website: Citizen's Voice
He's still waiting, but the status of marijuana in Pennsylvania may be changing. Several bills are moving through the state Legislature. Stark, of Exeter Township in Berks County, is confident that when he organizes an event next year in the city, medical cannabis and farmed hemp will be legal in the state.
One bill regarding medical use of marijuana is currently in the House of Representatives Rules Committee. Until it comes back, Stark and other advocates of the plant don't know what the legislation will say. He is worried it will be a weaker bill with more restrictions than he would prefer, but if it changes the law in the only state in the northeast without medical marijuana, he'll take it.
"It will still help people," he said.
The Keystone Cannabis Coalition and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Cannabis Network organized Saturday's marijuana-advocacy event in Kirby Park. Attendees heard from speakers advocating changes to state law or describing how marijuana had changed their lives. At a table under the park pavilion, buttons, history books, soaps and shirts were for sale. There was even a mustard from Lancaster County with hemp seeds on the ingredient list.
Stark has other legislative goals. He's eventually like to see legalization in the state. For now, he said he plans to talk to city councils in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton to urge them to support decriminalization measures in their cities.
Laura Joe Kincaid, 35, of LeRaysville said she's been advocating for marijuana since her mother took her to protests in Washington, D.C., as a child. She's hosting her own advocacy rally on Sept. 26 in Towanda.
Since moving to Pennsylvania about seven years ago, she's noticed a change in attitudes from the public and state legislators.
"Now, legislators are willing to have the conversation," she said.
Kincaid will honor her friend Rita Dennis at her event. Dennis used to lived in Kingston but moved to California about four years ago when she had health problems. Her children convinced her to try a cannabis concentrate, which she credited with improving her health.
Dennis uses cannabis oil most nights in California. If the laws are changed in her home state, she plans to move back to Bradford County, where she grew up.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana Supporters See Reasons For Optimism
Author: Bill Wellock
Photo Credit: Dave Scherbencko
Website: Citizen's Voice
