Pubdate: Tue, 28 Jan 2014
Source: Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, PA)
Copyright: 2014 The Standard-Speaker
Contact:  http://www.standardspeaker.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1085
Author: Robert Swift

NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA PUSH FOCUSES ON KIDS

HARRISBURG - A new push to have Pennsylvania legalize marijuana use 
for medical reasons focuses heavily on the potential benefit for sick children.

The issue will be in the limelight Tuesday when the Senate Law and 
Justice Committee holds a hearing on a bill known as the 
Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act.

This measure would allow the use of medical marijuana by patients 
with a recommendation from an attending physician.

Sen. Daylin Leach, D-17, King of Prussia, a bill cosponsor, has 
launched a social media campaign called Meet the Kids 
(#MeetThePAKids) that highlights the cases of children who could 
benefit from prescribed use of marijuana.

Leach features photos and stories of children with epilepsy and 
seizure disorders on his website. He said children with these 
illnesses can benefit from the medicinal qualities of marijuana.

Leach urged Gov. Tom Corbett to meet with some of the families.

The governor opposes the legalization of marijuana for medicinal and 
recreational uses, Corbett spokesman Jay Pagni said Friday.

However, Corbett has said he's interested in seeing the results of 
any trials by the federal Food and Drug Administration on the effects 
of cannabidiol, a nonhallucinogenic compound in cannabis, added Pagni.

The bill's other sponsor, Sen. Mike Folmer, R-48, Lebanon, brings a 
personal perspective to the matter.

"As a cancer survivor, I believe under the guidance of a medical 
professional, patients should have every opportunity to combat their 
illness and have the liberty and ability to use cannabis as a weapon 
in their arsenal of treatment," said Folmer.

He suggested that medical marijuana can offer an alternative to 
addictive prescription drugs.

The bill drew support last week from the Pennsylvania State Nurses 
Association, which represents registered nurses.

"SB 1182 both protects patients from prosecution when seeking the use 
of medicinal marijuana and protects health care providers who suggest 
medical marijuana to relieve intractable medical conditions or 
symptoms," said an association statement.

The senators carefully note their bill is the first to be introduced 
in the Senate with bipartisan support. But medical marijuana bills 
have been introduced in previous sessions without seeing much headway.

A House committee held a hearing in 2009 on a Philadelphia Democratic 
lawmaker's bill to provide for state licensing and inspection of 
"compassion" centers where marijuana could be used with a doctor's 
recommendation by patients suffering from HIV, AIDS, cancer and other 
illnesses.

That hearing drew testimony from supporters who argued that medical 
marijuana is a way to ease pain and suffering and opponents who 
voiced concerns the bill would weaken existing drug laws and make a 
controlled substance more available.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom