A group of seriously ill patients and their family members will hold a press conference and rally Monday in support of ending the wait for legal access to medical cannabis. Since early November, patients and their caregivers have spent their days in the Capitol rotunda in the “Still Waiting Room,” a simulated doctor’s office, as a way to bring attention to legislative delays. The press conference will take place adjacent to the waiting room at 2:30 p.m., followed by patients deconstructing the room to express their frustration with lawmakers. Representatives from Campaign for Compassion will be available for interviews following the event.
The Senate approved S.B. 3, a comprehensive medical cannabis bill, on May 12, 2015. Based on comments made by officials, supporters held out hope the bill would be approved at the end of summer, then in the fall, then by the end of 2015. However, a vote still has not been scheduled, and the bill now has almost 200 amendments filed.
“The end of the year has come and gone, and our patients are no closer to relief,” said Luke Shultz, a Bernville resident who suffers from chronic pain. “It’s been eight months since the Senate medical cannabis bill passed, and we’re still waiting on the House to vote on a comprehensive bill. We want them to know that it is unacceptable to allow our families to continue suffering. The time to act is now.”
WHAT: News conference and rally in support of ending the wait for legal access to medical cannabis in Pennsylvania, followed by deconstruction of “Still Waiting Room”
WHEN: Monday, February 8, 2016, 2:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: Main Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building, Harrisburg
WHO: Members of Campaign for Compassion
Additional patients, their family members, and advocates
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Campaign for Compassion is a group of seriously ill patients and their loved ones, medical practitioners, and advocates that works to educate the public about the benefits of medical cannabis and to enact a comprehensive medical cannabis law in Pennsylvania. For more information, visit https://www.campaign4compassion.com/.
