The Connecticut House of Representatives approved a last-minute bill to study the concept of fully legalizing the medical use of marijuana.
Early Wednesday morning, at about 2:35 a.m., the House amended a bill to create a new task force to study the issue, according to an AP report.
Lawmakers had already given final approval Tuesday to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, and there wasn’t enough time left to hammer out a medical marijuana bill.
Proponent of medical marijuana, Rep. Penny Bacchiochi (R) said even though there were enough votes this year to approve a bill legalizing the medical use of marijuana, there was not enough time to pass the legislation because a lengthy debate was expected in the Senate.
Bacchiochi said the task force will look at issues such as dispensing the drug, growing marijuana and having licensed professionals distribute the marijuana to qualifying patients.
The task force bill is currently awaiting Senate approval.