Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Jefferson City - Mike Sharp's testimony in favor of legalizing medical marijuana silenced a House committee Wednesday.
He spoke slowly, with pain in his voice, about how his 18-year-old nephew Dalton with severe autism beats his head against walls and bites himself on a daily basis.
He said the medicines currently on the market have failed Dalton time and time again.
And while the Jackson County Sheriff knew the risks of legalizing marijuana, he couldn't help asking for mercy for people with chronic disorders or terminal diseases.
"Why would you not want to help a child have one good day?" he asked.
But lawmakers remained skeptical about the prospect of expanding access to the long-maligned hallucinogen as 28 other states have done. They worried about authorizing drugs for children and causing problems for law enforcement.
Rep. Lynn Morris, R-Bolivar, was especially concerned about the latter, citing calls he's gotten from police officers and prosecutors about the bill.
Jason Grellner, president of the Missouri Narcotics Officers Association, affirmed those fears.
He said the measure would bypass the Federal Drug Administration's approval process, leaving vulnerable patients in the dark about proper dosage for certain conditions and potential side effects. He also listed groups opposed to allowing medical use, including the American Cancer Society, American Psychiatric Association and the National Institute for Neurological Disorders.
Dr. Adrienne Poe, a neuroscientist at the Washington University School of Medicine, contended that medical marijuana could help curb the state's opioid crisis.
A 2014 study published in Journal of American Medicine Association found states with medical marijuana laws had nearly 25 percent fewer opioid-related overdose deaths than those prohibiting it.
But committee chairman Rep. Keith Frederick, R-Rolla, was more enthusiastic about Grellner's opinion.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services would regulate the distribution and sale of the drug and issue registration cards to eligible buyers.
Eligible patients could possess up to 20 ounces at one time.
The proposed law would not allow growing marijuana at home.
The House gave initial approval to a similar measure that would have put the question to voters last year, but killed it on a final vote.
An organization known as New Approach Missouri thinks the same thing will happen this year.
They've started gathering signatures in support of a 2018 ballot initiative that would let voters decide the issue. Their measure would affect a wider population of people suffering from painful diseases and allow eligible patients to grow up to six plants in their homes. It would also impose a 4 percent sales tax on purchases from vendors for veteran health care.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Proposal Gets Skeptical Reception In Missouri House Committee
Author: Austin Huguelet
Contact: 208-232-6666
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: KPVI
He spoke slowly, with pain in his voice, about how his 18-year-old nephew Dalton with severe autism beats his head against walls and bites himself on a daily basis.
He said the medicines currently on the market have failed Dalton time and time again.
And while the Jackson County Sheriff knew the risks of legalizing marijuana, he couldn't help asking for mercy for people with chronic disorders or terminal diseases.
"Why would you not want to help a child have one good day?" he asked.
But lawmakers remained skeptical about the prospect of expanding access to the long-maligned hallucinogen as 28 other states have done. They worried about authorizing drugs for children and causing problems for law enforcement.
Rep. Lynn Morris, R-Bolivar, was especially concerned about the latter, citing calls he's gotten from police officers and prosecutors about the bill.
Jason Grellner, president of the Missouri Narcotics Officers Association, affirmed those fears.
He said the measure would bypass the Federal Drug Administration's approval process, leaving vulnerable patients in the dark about proper dosage for certain conditions and potential side effects. He also listed groups opposed to allowing medical use, including the American Cancer Society, American Psychiatric Association and the National Institute for Neurological Disorders.
Dr. Adrienne Poe, a neuroscientist at the Washington University School of Medicine, contended that medical marijuana could help curb the state's opioid crisis.
A 2014 study published in Journal of American Medicine Association found states with medical marijuana laws had nearly 25 percent fewer opioid-related overdose deaths than those prohibiting it.
But committee chairman Rep. Keith Frederick, R-Rolla, was more enthusiastic about Grellner's opinion.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services would regulate the distribution and sale of the drug and issue registration cards to eligible buyers.
Eligible patients could possess up to 20 ounces at one time.
The proposed law would not allow growing marijuana at home.
The House gave initial approval to a similar measure that would have put the question to voters last year, but killed it on a final vote.
An organization known as New Approach Missouri thinks the same thing will happen this year.
They've started gathering signatures in support of a 2018 ballot initiative that would let voters decide the issue. Their measure would affect a wider population of people suffering from painful diseases and allow eligible patients to grow up to six plants in their homes. It would also impose a 4 percent sales tax on purchases from vendors for veteran health care.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana Proposal Gets Skeptical Reception In Missouri House Committee
Author: Austin Huguelet
Contact: 208-232-6666
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: KPVI
