Pubdate: Sat, 28 Jun 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: Erin McCarthy
Page: B1

PA. SENATE PANEL MOVES MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

HARRISBURG - A state Senate committee unanimously approved a bill 
Friday that would legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal 
purposes for patients with certain medical conditions.

Sens. Daylin Leach ( D., Montgomery) and Mike Folmer (R., Lebanon), 
who cosponsored the bill, said they anticipated its reaching the 
Senate floor for a vote before the legislature breaks for summer recess.

But, while proponents of medical marijuana celebrated, the future of 
the bill was uncertain. Most GOP leaders in the House oppose it.

"Obviously some members support it, but the vast majority of members 
in our caucus believe the states should not be in the business of 
deciding what is or is not medicine. That's what the FDA can and does 
do," said Steve Miskin, spokesman for House Majority Leader Mike 
Turzai (R., Allegheny).

Gov. Corbett is expected to veto any marijuana legalization bill that 
is broader than his proposal for a pilot study of the use of cannabis 
(CBD) oil to treat children with epilepsy.

"The governor remains opposed to legalization of marijuana for 
recreational or medicinal purposes beyond the scope of the CBD oil of 
his research pilot proposal," said Corbett spokesman Jay Pagni.

Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R., Bucks), chairman of the law and justice 
committee, asked his members on Friday after the vote to "say a 
prayer" that it is passed into law.

"The individuals who will be helped most by this sort of treatment 
are some of the state's most vulnerable residents, including children 
who suffer from debilitating seizures who have exhausted all other 
treatment options," McIlhinney said.

"Despite many prejudices surrounding this issue, the use of medical 
cannabis offers tremendous potential as a safe and effective 
treatment for many Pennsylvanians suffering from chronic illness," he said.

The bill must still win approval of the Appropriations Committee.

"This is the most good' vote I'm going to make in my years here," 
said Sen. Wayne Fontana (D., Allegheny).

After the vote, Folmer appeared to be choked up, and Leach stood 
besides four families of children with severe chronic illnesses.

"This is a people issue," Folmer said.

Hundreds of families from across Pennsylvania have rallied behind the 
bill, including several who attended the committee meeting. They say 
their children, many of whom suffer from seizures, would benefit from 
medical marijuana, which the amended bill would legalize in edible 
and vapor form, but not for smoking.

Lorelei Ulrich, 6, despite having undergone surgery this week, 
skipped around her mother Friday afternoon in the Capitol.

"These are rarely seen moments," Dana Ulrich said of her daughter. 
She said epilepsy causes Lorelei to have hundreds of seizures a day 
and be lethargic most of the time.

Ulrich said critics of the bill have told her to find marijuana "on 
the street" and give it to her daughter. As Folmer left the meeting 
room, he knelt to talk with Lorelei.

"You're awesome," he said. Then he turned to her mother and said, 
"We're in the fight."

Last week, New York joined 23 states, including New Jersey, in 
legalizing medical marijuana for the treatment of certain medical 
conditions, including epilepsy, cancer, and Parkinson's.

Folmer said the Pennsylvania bill would not only help children with 
epilepsy, but also cancer patients and veterans suffering from 
post-traumatic stress.

Following hearings on the bill in January, Corbett, who had been 
opposed to marijuana legalization, said he would approve using the 
plant to treat children with seizures. But Corbett wants the children 
to be treated as part of a pilot study on the effects of cannabis oil 
on epilepsy.

Leach called Corbett's proposed trial unacceptable, and seemed 
hopeful about the bill's future. He anticipated a 45-5 vote in the 
Senate, and Folmer said he has heard the bill would pass the House by 
a similar margin.

"Pennsylvania is in a great position to be a leader in research," Folmer said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom