Pubdate: Sun, 01 Feb 2015
Source: Citizens' Voice, The (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
Copyright: 2015 The Citizens' Voice
Contact:  http://www.citizensvoice.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1334

NO REASON TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

The medical record on marijuana is far from complete, but it is known 
to be helpful in stimulating appetite in some cancer patients, easing 
the effects of some seizure disorders in children and relieving some 
types of pain. And if developments in Harrisburg continue, it might 
even prove to promote bipartisanship.

State Sens. Daylin Leach, a Montgomery County Democrat, and Mike 
Folmer, a Lebanon County Republican, plan to introduce an expanded 
version of the medicinal marijuana bill that passed the Senate last 
year before dying in the House due to opposition by former Gov. Tom 
Corbett. Eight other senators, including Majority Leader Jake Corman, 
Centre County Republican, and Minority Leader Jay Costa, an Allegheny 
County Democrat, attended the press conference to announce the re-introduction.

Gov. Tom Wolf has said he will sign the new bill and House Majority 
Leader David Reed, an Indiana County Republican, has said he will 
move the bill in the House.

The bill would expand access, as opposed to the previous version, in 
terms of conditions eligible for treatment and the number of 
potential delivery methods. But the process would be under the 
careful control of health care professionals, and there is nothing in 
the legislation that would lead to legalizing pot for recreational 
use, which is a distinct issue.

There is no reason to prohibit the use of medicinal marijuana, 
especially given the specifications within the bill. The House should 
be on board this time, and medicinal pot should be added to the 
arsenal that physicians can use to ease their patients' suffering.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom