Senate Law and Justice Committee votes in favor of bill that would allow seriously ill Pennsylvanians to use marijuana to treat their medical conditions
The Senate Law and Justice Committee voted unanimously today to approve a bill that would make it legal for seriously ill patients to use marijuana to treat their conditions with recommendations from their doctors. This is the first time medical marijuana legislation has been considered in Pennsylvania. The bill is expected to go to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a vote next, before going to the full Senate.
SB 1182, sponsored by Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) and Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery), would allow qualified patients to obtain medical marijuana from a limited number of licensed, regulated dispensaries throughout the state. Smoking would not be permitted, but patients could consume marijuana in edible form or through vaporization of the plant or its extracts. Home cultivation would also not be allowed under the bill. Patients under the age of 18 would be required to have parental consent in order to take part in the program.
A companion bill, HB 2182, was introduced in the House with 46 co-sponsors, but has not yet received a hearing.
“Residents of the Keystone State deserve the same opportunities to relieve their suffering as their neighbors,” said Rachelle Yeung, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project. “When New York gets final approval for its medical marijuana program, Pennsylvania will be nearly surrounded by states that allow seriously ill patients to access this safe and effective medicine. It is time for the legislature to recognize the overwhelming public support for this compassionate, sensible bill and do the right thing.”
According to a March 2014 poll by Quinnipiac University, 85% of Pennsylvania voters support medical marijuana. There are currently 22 states and the District of Columbia that have effective medical marijuana laws. Earlier this month, the New York Legislature approved a bill that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to sign, making it the 23rd medical marijuana state.