Bill Would Enable Doctors to Prescribe Cannabis To Patients

A bill that would enable doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to patients -- introduced in the House of Delegates earlier this month -- has attracted bipartisan support, moving Maryland closer to joining 16 states and Washington in legalizing the drug for medicinal purposes.

Del. Cheryl Glenn (D-Baltimore City) drafted HB 15 -- also known as the Maryland Medical Marijuana Act -- which would allow doctors to prescribe the drug to patients suffering from severe pain and end-of-life ailments, as well as regulate the sale and growth of the drug in the state. Although opponents of the bill have argued that the legislation would lead to increased drug use, Glenn said prescriptions would only be used when "doctors have exhausted all other resources."

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