Pubdate: Sat, 17 Aug 2013
Source: Dover Post (DE)
Copyright: 2013 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.doverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5249

GOV. JACK MARKELL REVIVES PLAN TO OPEN MEDICAL MARIJUANA CENTER IN DELAWARE

On Thursday, Gov. Jack Markell Sent a Letter About His Proposal for 
the Medical Marijuana Center to Legislators Who Sponsored a 2011 Bill 
to Allow Medical Marijuana Use in Delaware. the Center Was Put on 
Hold Because of Potential Conflicts With Federal Laws.

DOVER, Del. - Gov. Jack Markell is proposing to revive a plan to open 
a medical marijuana center in Delaware.

On Thursday, Markell sent a letter about the proposal to State Sen. 
Margaret Rose Henry (D-Wilmington) and State Rep. Helene Keeley 
(D-Wilmington South), who sponsored a 2011 bill to allow medical 
marijuana use in Delaware. Plans for a medical marijuana center were 
put on hold because of potential conflicts with federal laws.

In the letter, Markell said, "As a result of our review of policies 
in Rhode Island, New Jersey and other states, I have become convinced 
that proceeding with our program, while making considered 
modifications to address federal concerns, is the appropriate course 
for Delaware. Therefore, I am writing you to inform you that [the 
Department of Health and Human Services] will proceed to issue a 
request for proposal for a pilot compassion center to open in 
Delaware next year."

Sen. Henry said she was pleased with the governor's plan.

"Although I think we all understood the governor's reasoning in 
putting the program on hold, it has been a long, frustrating delay - 
especially for people whose pain and suffering can be eased through 
the use of medical marijuana," said Henry in a press release.

The governor was concerned that center employees might be prosecuted 
for violating federal drug laws. Administration officials have been 
reviewing how best to move ahead with the program while minimizing 
the risk of federal prosecution.

On Thursday, the governor announced that he was planning to proceed 
on a limited basis by opening one pilot compassion center instead of 
the three authorized in the law, and by putting limits on the amount 
of marijuana that the center can grow and keep in its inventory.

Delaware's center will be limited to a cultivation of no more than 
150 marijuana plants and an on-site inventory of no more than 1,500 
ounces of marijuana for medical uses, Markell said. The center will 
have 24-hour video monitoring. The center will be required to verify 
patient and caregiver identification cards by a phone and/or online 
verification system before dispensing marijuana and to keep books and 
records in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Before adding medical conditions for which medical marijuana could be 
authorized, the Department of Health and Social Services must verify 
that the medical condition is debilitating and that marijuana is more 
likely than not to have the potential to be beneficial to treat or 
alleviate the debilitation associated with the medical condition, Markell said.

The center will also be required to report any missing marijuana 
within 24 hours and disclose the source of any funds over $5,000.

While setting up a treatment center has been on hold, the state has 
been issuing identification cards to patients and caregivers who 
would qualify for medical marijuana under the law.

"Issuing ID cards has been making slow, steady progress," Henry said. 
"It's my hope that the Department of Health and Social Services steps 
up that process to ensure that people will be able to get the 
treatment they need as soon as possible after the center opens."

The department is to propose the regulations governing selection of a 
service provider by Oct. 1. Those rules will be finalized by Jan. 1 
and the department could name a service provider by early May of 2014.

"I hope the department will move in a timely way to finalize the 
rules and get the process started," Henry said. "The people who need 
this treatment should not be denied legal access to a beneficial drug 
any longer than necessary."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom