Pubdate: Fri, 18 Mar 2016
Source: Daily Local, The (PA)
Copyright: 2016 The Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.dailylocal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4704

STATE HOUSE VOTES TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

(AP) - A bill to let Pennsylvania patients who suffer from a list of 
ailments obtain marijuana for therapeutic purposes easily passed the 
state House on Wednesday, leaving only approval by the Senate, which 
overwhelmingly passed a similar bill last year.

The House voted 149-43 for legislation that would set standards for 
growers, dispensaries and physicians. Patients could take the drug in 
pill, oil or liquid form, but would not be able to obtain marijuana 
they could smoke.

Supporters said it would help relieve the suffering of sick people.

"Today we have the opportunity of offering hope to the parents of 
these children, to the patients, offering the hope of letting them, 
along with their doctors, decide how to best treat the conditions 
they're dealing with on a daily basis," said Rep. Jim Cox, RBerks.

Opponents argued the Legislature should not be approving a drug that 
is illegal under federal law.

"We're setting the path to bypass the FDA (Food and Drug 
Administration) product approval process, whether the drugs are good 
or bad. We're saying we're willing to circumvent that process, a 
process that's been in place for over 100 years, because it's what's 
needed now," said Majority Whip Bryan Cutler, RLancaster.

The bill would allow people to buy marijuana from a dispensary after 
they have been certified by a medical practitioner to have one of the 
17 enumerated conditions. Those conditions include cancer, epilepsy, 
autism, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickle 
cell anemia, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, glaucoma and chronic or 
intractable pain. Under the proposal, the state would license up to 
25 growers and processors, and as many as 50 dispensaries, which 
could each operate three locations.

Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Armstrong, drew a standing ovation after speaking 
of his own battle with cancer and the chance that his daughters may 
inherit the disease.

"I live with cancer every day. I'm told there's a very high 
likelihood I'll have it again," Pyle said, adding: "Please let my 
kids have access to this."

Advocates celebrated in the Capitol after several years of going from 
door to door seeking support among lawmakers. Many are the parents of 
children who have lost their ability to function intellectually at 
their age level because of the severe seizures they suffer daily.

One parent, Dana Ulrich, said she is convinced that legal access to 
the drug would help her 8-year-old daughter Lorelei, who has numerous 
seizures every day.

"I absolutely believe that it will help her and so does her doctor," she said.

Noting that medical groups have come out against the bill, saying it 
needs more research, Rep. Matt Baker, R-Tioga, called the vote unprecedented.

"I cannot remember when was the last time this august body voted on a 
bill that was in direct violation of federal law," Baker said.

Marijuana is widely available on the black market, noted Rep. Marty 
Flynn, D-Lackawanna.

"All we're doing is allowing the people of the commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania who need this to access it legally," Flynn said.

Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, a key sponsor, said the Senate would 
take it up and get it to the governor as soon as possible.

Senate Republican spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher said the House changes 
were being reviewed.

"We understand the urgency behind continuing the progress," Kocher said.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who has urged passage of legalized medical 
marijuana, released a statement that applauded the House vote and 
predicted the bill would provide "essential help" to patients.

The National Conference of State Legislatures says 23 states, Guam 
and Washington, D.C., have enacted comprehensive public medical 
marijuana and cannabis programs since California was first in 1996.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom