SB 3 passes House Wednesday evening, now returns to Senate for final approval
Senate Bill 3 advocates for the legalization of medical marijuana use in Pennsylvania: it passed the State House late Wednesday evening, and is now moving back to the Senate for final approval.
The Senate is back in session Monday March 21, and is expected to take up the amended legislation upon their return, sending the bill to Governor Tom Wolf, who has said he will sign it into law.
Senate Bill 3 will allow for state-trained doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to patients, who must carry a state-issued card.
According to PennLive.com, the medical marijuana bill will allow for the treatment of 16 different medical conditions including PTSD, cancer, seizures, HIV/AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis and some neurological disorders.
From the office of State Senator Sean Wiley (D-49), a summary of Senate Bill 3:
"The legislation as amended establishes a system of growers, processors and dispensaries. Fifty dispensaries would be allowed to have up to three separate locations, meaning potentially 150 places where patients could obtain medical marijuana. There are local zoning implications for dispensaries and dispensaries cannot be located within 1000 feet of schools or daycares.
A 5% tax on growers and processors would be directed to a state account called the Medical Marijuana Program Fund. The fund would help provide research money for universities and hospitals and offset costs for those patients who can't afford medical marijuana. 6% surcharge on price from grower or processor to dispenser goes to Department of State.
The Department of Health and an advisory board would oversee the program, including creating regions so patients would have access to the drug. The board would, among other tasks, determine whether to expand or reduce the number of dispensaries and the list of applicable medical conditions. Board consists of 15 members, 7 permanent members & 8 appointed by the legislature & Governor. Permanents = Secy of Health, PSP Commissioner, State Board of Pharmacy Chair, Commish of Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs, Physician General, Pres of PA Chiefs of Police Assoc & Pres of District Attorney's Assoc.
Under the amendment, a “serious medical condition” includes cancer, epilepsy, intractable seizures, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, severe chronic and intractable pain of neuropathic origin, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathies, Huntington's disease and Autism.
Another amendment removed a provision that capped individual doses to no more than 10 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component in marijuana -- leaving dosage amounts to physicians.
MDs and DOs can register with the Dept. of Health to become a "practitioner" who can in turn certify patients to use medicinal marijuana (MM).
Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by YOURERIE
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