A proposal to allow patients who suffer from a list of ailments to obtain marijuana for therapeutic purposes is nearing a final vote in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and the measure appears on track to become state law in the near future. The legislation would also allow medical marijuana to be administered only through vaporization or in oil or pill form to patients suffering from a number of serious medical conditions, including cancer, AIDS, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.
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House votes on amendments over the past two days suggest strong support for the measure, which would be sent back to the Senate.
Even if the bill is signed into law, getting medical marijuana to those who need it would still be years away, said Rep. Seth Grove, R-Dover Township, who voted against the bill.
Supporters framed it as a way to relieve the suffering of sick people. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, will review the House’s changes to Senate Bill 3 ahead of another vote on approval. The governor has said he will sign the legislation and has urged lawmakers to take action on the issue.
The National Conference of State Legislatures says 23 states have enacted comprehensive public medical marijuana and cannabis programs since California passed the first in 1996. “Many Pennsylvanians, and especially children, may benefit from the medical use of marijuana, but without the legal availability of the medicine, they may never know”.
The drug can’t be imported into Pennsylvania, leaving growers and distributors to set up operations in the state.
“I think it’s irresponsible for states to be taking this up”, Grove said. “While I can understand the concerns I heard from my colleagues on the other side of this issue, I believe the scientific evidence supporting medical marijuana is clear”. Republican Rep. Ron Marisco, of Dauphin County, was also in favor of axing the THC limit, and included an amendment that said that cannabis plants or dried cannabis flowers could be distributed to patients, which also passed.
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“This has been a long and hard journey for many patients and families, and our destination is finally in sight”, Bentch said.
