Yesterday was a very big day for medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. A medical marijuana bill was passed by the Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee and is expected to get a full vote in the Senate today. The bill is far from perfect, but if passed, it would be a great step in the right direction. Especially considering how hard it is to get marijuana reform passed at the state level in Pennsylvania. Philly NORML had the following to say about the bill yesterday:
BREAKING – The PA Senate Appropriation’s committee has passed SB1182 out of their committee. By a vote of 21 – 5, the bill will go to a floor vote tomorrow, Wednesday the 24th.
SB1182 was heavily amended, and no longer resembles the bill we have been talking about for the last 9 months. FACTS:
Only 10 conditions will qualify a patient:
Cancer
Epilepsy and Seizures
ALS/Lou Gherigs Disease
Cachexia/Wasting Syndrome
Parkinsons Disease
Traumatic Brain Injury
Multiple Sclerosis
Spinocerabellara Ataxia (SCA)
PTSD
Severe fibromyalgia
The PA Cannabis board would also have authority to add conditions.
Patients will only be allowed to have edibles, tinctures, and cannabis oils – no more whole-plant medicine, no smoking, no vaporizing. It’s not CBD-only; thankfully there are no strain restrictions that we have seen in the language.
UPDATE – the full text is now available online at https://www.legis.state.pa.us/
