More than a decade ago the state Legislature considered a bill that would have allowed doctors to prescribe marijuana. It required a doctor to "certify that a patient has a serious condition that in the practitioner's judgment can and should be treated" with marijuana and "that other drugs or treatments would not be as effective."

The bill went nowhere, as did its successors in following years. Now, the state seems to be on the verge of passing legislation that is identical in some ways but very different in one.

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