Pubdate: Fri, 24 Jan 2014
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2014 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Amy Worden
Page: B3

PA. NURSES' GROUP BACKS MEDICAL POT

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association on Thursday became the first
medical professional group in the commonwealth to publicly support a
bill legalizing medical marijuana.

The group, representing more than 212,000 registered nurses in
Pennsylvania, said it was backing Senate Bill 1182, which would
protect patients who want to use medicinal marijuana and the
healthcare professionals who recommend it, from prosecution.

"We have been hearing a lot from our patients and their families about
it, especially from those with seizure disorders, where traditional
medical treatments are not effective," said Betsy Snook, the
association's CEO and a nurse.

She said the group's endorsement was a reflection of nurses heeding
their code of ethics "to bring about social change and bring about
symptom relief for patients."

The bill, known as the "Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act,"
will be the subject of a hearing Tuesday before the Senate Law and
Justice Committee. Snook said association members might testify.

Sen. Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery), who cosponsored the bill with Mike
Folmer (R., Lebanon), said several doctors had independently supported
the bill but he was grateful to the nurses as a group for "standing up
for sick patients."

"As we all know, nurses are the ones who have the most frequent and
direct contact with patients," said Leach. "They understand better
than anyone the tragedy of disease and the miracle of medicine."

Leach's and Folmer's bill would allow patients who have a doctor's
recommendation to buy medical cannabis from licensed care centers. The
process - from the growth of plants to the administration of the
medicine to the patient - would be regulated by the Departments of
Health and Agriculture. Currently, 21 states and the District of
Columbia have legalized the use of medical marijuana.
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