Pubdate: Tue, 26 Mar 2013
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2013 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Erin Cox
Page: 13

Assembly Digest

MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL CLEARS HOUSE OF DELEGATES

A bill to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes passed 
the House of Delegates on Monday, sending the measure to the Senate.

The bill would allow marijuana to be distributed to patients through 
academic research centers by doctors and nurses. Similar measures 
have failed in previous years, but this year Gov. Martin O'Malley 
dropped his opposition and backed the proposal.

Currently, 18 other states and the District of Columbia allow for 
some medical marijuana use. The bill's sponsor, Del. Dan Morhaim, a 
physician and a Baltimore County Democrat, has described Maryland's 
potential program as the tightest and most controlled of any in the country.

The bill's passage in the House comes a week after the Senate 
approved a separate measure that would decriminalize possession of 
small amounts of pot. The House has not yet voted on the 
decriminalization bill.

Within minutes of the House's 108-28 vote to approve medical 
marijuana, advocates celebrated and predicted passage in the Senate.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom