Pubdate: Tue, 19 Nov 2013
Source: Daily Local, The (PA)
Copyright: 2013 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.dailylocal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4704

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR PA. MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

HARRISBURG (AP) - Two state senators, one a Republican and the other 
a Democrat, said Monday they plan to introduce a bill to legalize a 
certain form of marijuana for medicinal use in Pennsylvania in an 
effort to help children who suffer seizures and potentially many 
others, including patients suffering through chemotherapy.

Sens. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery, and Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, said 
their bill would help ensure Pennsylvanians can get medical benefits 
from cannabidiol, or CBD, a compound found in marijuana that is 
credited with various medical applications without providing a high.

It is the first time that a medical marijuana bill has been drafted 
with bipartisan support in the Senate, Leach said.

Under the bill, Pennsylvania doctors would be limited to prescribing 
medicine derived from marijuana that has a higher amount of CBD than 
marijuana's psychoactive chemical, known as THC, Leach said.

It would not be addictive or psychoactive, and could be used in place 
of pharmaceuticals that are toxic, addictive or riddled with side 
effects, Leach said.

"There is no rational reason not to support giving a child this 
medication," Leach told a Capitol news conference packed with 
supporters of legalizing medical marijuana.

It can be delivered by dropper for children and pill form for adults.

Two Pennsylvania mothers of children with epilepsy, including one boy 
who has a rare and sometimes deadly form called Dravet syndrome, 
appeared with Leach and said they believe it can control their 
children's debilitating seizures.

"My plea today to the government is to leave the doctoring to the 
doctors," said Dana Ulrich of Reinholds. She said her daughter 
Lorelei, 6, suffers some 400 seizures a day.

Leach also has sponsored a bill that would legalize marijuana for 
personal consumption. He said the bill he is introducing with Folmer 
would not allow the full range of uses of medical marijuana that are 
allowed in other states, but is the broadest concept so far for which 
he could get bipartisan support.

"We are trying to accomplish the achievable," Leach said.

Folmer, a Republican, did not attend the news conference due to the 
death of his mother. In a statement, he said "medical cannabis" could 
provide help to children who suffer from seizures and cancer patients 
suffering through chemotherapy.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom