Pubdate: Sun, 26 Oct 2014
Source: Springfield Sun (PA)
Copyright: Montgomery Newspapers 2014
Contact:  http://www.springfieldsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3329
Note: address LTEs To Adam Greenberg
Page: A7

FAILURE TO TAKE UP BILL HURTS CHILDREN

The medical marijuana bill awaiting a vote in the Pennsylvania House 
of Representatives never made it off the table.

How sad for the many young children suffering from severe seizures 
and other medical problems that SB 1182 is designed to help.

Representatives seemed to have a number of excuses for not taking up 
the Senate bill in the waning days of this legislative session, 
mainly centered on the rationale that some legislators have not been 
following the debates that led up to Senate passage of the bill and 
might not be able to make an informed decision about the bill's merit.

Even legislators who support more aggressive drug treatments for 
medical use - such as marijuana extracts to control seizures - aren't 
sure they want to support the Senate bill without studying it more closely.

Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-18, was quoted as saying conceptually he 
could support the legislation, but he still wants to make sure the 
bill's language doesn't open the door to unauthorized use of 
marijuana products by those who don't need it.

While those arguments might hold some validity on the surface, with 
all of the attention the media has given to the bill this year, all 
the coverage of the hearings and lobbying efforts by proponents - 
frequently parents or guardians of young children suffering from 
severe seizures - we wonder if House members can't read or if they 
just chose to ignore the attention being given to the Senate bill.

As for the concern that legalizing some forms of medical marijuana 
might lead to unauthorized use of the drug, we have to just shake our heads.

Just because heroin and cocaine are sold illegally on the street 
doesn't mean drugs such as morphine and other opiates should be 
outlawed for use by the medical community. Taking away the ability of 
doctors to prescribe those drugs for important medical uses would not 
solve the problem of drug abuse.

Likewise, legislative approval of the limited number of marijuana 
products for medical use probably won't mean easier access to the 
marijuana that most users smoke, and those users will still be able 
to get pot from their favorite (unauthorized) dealer, probably a lot 
more easily and cheaply than from a doctor.

Sen. Mike Folmer, R-48, has said he isn't giving up the fight to get 
medical marijuana legalized in Pennsylvania. He will bring up the 
bill in the Senate again next year.

Pennsylvania will surely follow in the footsteps of states that have 
legalized medical marijuana. Eventually.

Meanwhile the most vulnerable of patients who would benefit from the 
use of cannabis oil - young children suffering from multiple seizures 
daily - must continue to suffer while legislators drag their heels on 
the issue. How sad, and unnecessary. Digital First Media
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom