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State senate passes medical marijuana bill

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pa Senate has voted 42 – 7 to pass a medical marijuana bill. The amended bill is now headed to the State House for considerati...

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pa Senate has voted 42 - 7 to pass a medical marijuana bill. The amended bill is now headed to the State House for consideration.

A House vote on the measure is expected Wednesday. If approved it heads to Governor Wolf's desk where he says he will sign the bill into law.

The House sent SB3 to the Senate on March 16. However, the bill contained nearly 200 amendments. Senate leaders spent the last four weeks determining if the bill could function under the conditions named in the House-passed version of the bill.

On Monday, the Senate Rules Committee wrote a technical amendment into SB3, changing language and reorganizing the bill.

"This is not a perfect bill, but it is a bill that will work," said Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon), one of the bill's co-sponsors along with Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery).

The amended bill has no effect on patient access, tweeted Leach's spokesperson, Steve Hoenstine.

Governor Wolf released the following statement:

“I want to thank the members of the Senate for their passage of the medical marijuana legalization bill and I am urging the House to take quick action in order to send this bill to my desk for a signature. It is finally time to provide long overdue medical relief to patients and families who could benefit from the legalization of medical marijuana. We should not deny doctor-recommended treatment that could help people suffering from seizures or cancer patients affected by chemotherapy.”

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