Pubdate: Sun, 24 Mar 2013
Source: Cumberland Times-News (MD)
Copyright: 2013 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.times-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1365
Author: Brian Witte, Associated Press Writer
Page: 1B

MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL ADVANCES IN HOUSE

Measure Would Create Commission to Oversee Program

ANNAPOLIS (AP) - A measure to allow medical marijuana in Maryland 
moved forward in the House of Delegates on Saturday.

The House gave the bill preliminary approval with little discussion, 
though it still needs a final vote in the chamber. The legislation 
would create a commission to oversee a medical marijuana program at 
academic medical research centers that decide to participate. The 
commission would function within the Maryland Department of Health 
and Mental Hygiene.

Supporters have been pushing for the Maryland measure for years, but 
it received an extra boost this year with the backing of health 
department Secretary Joshua Sharfstein, a member of Gov. Martin 
O'Malley's cabinet. Sharfstein opposed the measure last year, fearing 
state employees could face federal prosecution.

Sharfstein told lawmakers earlier this month he supports the bill 
with changes to make it clear the governor can suspend the program if 
it is determined state employees could be prosecuted for their 
involvement in the program.

The legislation also has been changed to note that a state employee 
would be eligible for reimbursement of legal fees in connection with 
a federal criminal investigation for good-faith work related to the program.

It's estimated that patients could not participate in a medical 
marijuana program before July 2015.

A program would be allowed only at an academic medical center, which 
is defined as a hospital that operates a medical residency program 
for physicians and conducts research that is overseen by the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services.

A participating medical center would be required to specify the 
medical conditions it would treat and the criteria by which patients 
would be allowed to participate. A medical center also would have to 
provide the state health department data on patients and caregivers 
on a daily basis. The department would also have to make the data 
available to law enforcement.

The commission overseeing the program could license no more than five 
medical marijuana growers for each approved program.

The bill is being sponsored by Delegate Dan Morhaim, a Baltimore 
County Democrat who is an emergency room physician.

Under current law, if a court finds that a defendant used marijuana 
out of medical necessity, the maximum punishment is a $100 fine. 
Critics say the current law still forces people whose pain could be 
alleviated by marijuana to buy it illegally from drug dealers.

On Tuesday, the state Senate voted 30-16 to decriminalize the 
possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana.

California became the first state to allow the medical use of marijuana.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom