Pubdate: Sun, 06 Mar 2016
Source: Times-Tribune, The (Scranton PA)
Copyright: 2016 Townnews.com
Contact:  http://www.thetimes-tribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4440
Author: Mike Regan
Note: Rep. Mike Regan, a Republican, represents the 92nd Legislative 
District in York County.

MORAL OBLIGATION TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

This legislative session has been a difficult one, with a drawn-out 
and contentious debate about the budget and slow progress on an issue 
that is vital to thousands of Pennsylvanians who face devastating 
illnesses - medical cannabis.

The Legislature has been considering some form of a medical cannabis 
bill since 2009 and every two years the session ends before anything 
is done to help suffering patients.

Last May, the Senate overwhelmingly approved Senate Bill 3, the 
latest incarnation of this much-needed bill. During the summer, I 
served on a working group appointed by House Majority Leader Dave 
Reed to examine the issue.

We came up with recommendations for a House version of the bill and 
we expected a vote by fall.

For the past two years, supporters of medical cannabis have been 
holding press conferences and sharing their stories.

They even set up a simulated doctor's office waiting room in the 
Capitol Rotunda to bring attention to their plight.

Children with severe epilepsy, people suffering from cancer and 
numerous other serious conditions, and their loved ones talked to 
lawmakers day after day in the hopes of getting us to take action.

One young girl who could have benefited from medical cannabis 
tragically passed away from her illness while waiting for a compassionate bill.

As voting session resumes, we have yet another opportunity to support 
a comprehensive, effective medical cannabis program.

In order to do that, several things must happen.

First, the provision that creates a cap on the percentage of 
tetrahydrocannabinol, the principal psychoactive constituent that may 
be present in medical cannabis, should be removed.

This was not included in the work group recommendations and is an 
inappropriate restriction. There is no evidence to suggest that 
stronger concentrations of THC present a danger to patients.

If anything, it means that they can achieve the desired result while 
consuming less of the substance.

It is especially ridiculous to consider capping THC levels when the 
only federally approved medical cannabis product, dronabinol, is 
basically 100 percent THC. It is clear that different conditions 
respond to different levels of THC and those decisions should be made 
by health care professionals, not legislators.

Second, the program should also allow for the whole marijuana plant 
to be used. New research details the medical uses of various 
compounds within the plant and how they work together to combat 
certain symptoms and conditions. It is my hope that the advisory 
committee attached to the Pennsylvania Department of Health will have 
the flexibility and authority to expand this legislation as research 
develops. Patients and their health care providers should not be 
denied a variety of strains of medical cannabis that are in use 
throughout the country.

Finally, patients should be provided with immediate protection from 
arrest. Patients should not have to wait as long as two years for 
legal protections, as the wheels of bureaucracies turn and 
dispensaries buy property, hire staff and grow and harvest cannabis. 
Most medical cannabis states provide some kind of legal protections 
to patients, so if they are already accessing cannabis, perhaps in a 
state where they establish residence for medical cannabis access, 
they will not risk their freedom for preserving their health.

But most importantly, my fellow lawmakers must not delay any longer. 
It is our moral obligation to help our fellow Pennsylvanians 
alleviate their suffering by passing a well-regulated, comprehensive 
medical cannabis bill as soon as possible.

I urge the House to fix the problems with Senate Bill 3 and bring it to a vote.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom