Pubdate: Tue, 29 Jul 2014
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Page: 4A
Copyright: 2014 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: John Ingold

BILL FILED TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL HEMP

A Republican congressman from Pennsylvania says he has filed a bill to
legalize nationwide the kinds of non-psychoactive medical marijuana
treatments that have attracted dozens of families to Colorado.

Dubbed the "Charlotte's Web Medical Hemp Act of 2014"- after the name
of the Colorado-developed marijuana strain most famously used in the
treatment - U.S. Rep. Scott Perry's bill would exclude all hemp, as
well as the non-psychoactive compound cannabidiol, or CBD, from the
federal government's laws against marijuana.

By law, hemp is marijuana that is ultra-low in THC, the plant's
psychoactive compound. Hemp, which is also illegal under federal law
in most cases, is commonly grown for fiber or seeds. But medical
marijuana providers in Colorado have begun growing plants low in THC
and high in CBD that qualify as hemp but are used to make oil for
treating severe forms of epilepsy in children.

Dozens of families have moved to Colorado seeking the oil, and
legislatures in 13 other states have this year passed laws allowing
for at least research of CBD oil.

In a statement, Perry said he introduced the bill after being
approached by three families in Pennsylvania whose children suffer
from epilepsy.

The bill, which was not yet available online Monday afternoon, has a
long way to go before becoming law. Similar bills to soften the
federal government's stance on marijuana - such as one from Colorado
U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter to help state-legal marijuana businesses get
bank accounts-have stalled.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D