Pubdate: Mon, 25 Nov 2013
Source: Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, PA)
Copyright: 2013 The Standard-Speaker
Contact:  http://www.standardspeaker.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1085

TIME FOR PA TO RECOGNIZE POT'S MEDICINAL VALUE

Pennsylvania is far behind the curve in recognizing that marijuana 
has legitimate medicinal uses.

A bill introduced last week by state Sens. Dylan Leach, a Montgomery 
County Democrat, and Mike Folmer, a Republican from Lebanon County, 
would begin the process of moving medicinal pot use from the realm of 
politics to that of medicine.

The bill is far more restrictive than those in 18 states that have 
approved medicinal marijuana use, and it simply does not entertain 
legal general recreational use of marijuana.

Rather, the bill would authorize a specific form of marijuana 
derivative, to be administered by dropper, for children who suffer 
from seizure disorders and, potentially, others seeking relief from 
chemotherapy treatment.

Doctors would be limited to prescribing marijuana-based medicines 
that have a higher concentration of cannabidiol, the chemical in pot 
with therapeutic applications, than tetrahydrocannabinol, the 
psychoactive agent in marijuana.

As Leach said while introducing the bill, there is no valid reason to 
not make available non-addictive, non-intoxicating medicine to help 
children deal with seizures.

It's not a law enforcement issue. It's not a political issue. It's a 
health matter. Doctors in Pennsylvania should be empowered to use 
pot-derived medicine in cases where it is appropriate.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom