The Pennsylvania House of Representatives will hold a joint satellite hearing of the Health and Judiciary Committees on medical marijuana. The hearing will take place on March 24, 2015 at 10:00AM at the University of PA Health System in the Perelman School of Medicine Zumbrow Auditorium, 800 S. Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA.
Legislation to enact a medical marijuana program in Pennsylvania has been active since 2009 when Rep. Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia) first introduced a bill.
In 2014 the state Senate passed a limited medical cannabis products bill, SB 1182, by a vote of 43-7. But that legislation was severely restricted, allowing just 10 qualifying conditions and only edible preparations.
On February 25, 2015, the Senate State Government Committee held a hearing to listen to testimony on Senate Bill 3 (Folmer/Leach).
Patients, medical professionals, scientists and community leaders have been urging legislators in both chambers to expand the scope of the medical marijuana bills. Amendments should allow doctors to decide when patients’ conditions require a recommendation for therapeutic cannabis, allow inhaled delivery methods and offer an expedited time-frame for implementation.
The House currently has one medical cannabis bill introduced (House Bill 193 – Cohen). It is assigned to the Health Committee.
“Medical cannabis is going to be a reality in Pennsylvania; the only question is how expansive it will be, and whether or not it will be effective in protecting patients from arrest while helping provide an atmosphere of healing and low cost,” said Derek Rosenzweig, who sits on the Board of Philly NORML.
The House Health Committee is chaired by Rep Matthew Baker (R-Tioga) and the Judiciary Committee is chaired by Rep Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin).
The last hearings before the House Health Committee on this topic took place in 2010. Videos can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/user/PA4MMJ/videos. Join us at the hearing - https://www.facebook.com/events/832390243499700
Source: Philly NORML
