MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL PASSES PA. HOUSE, WILL BE SENT TO GOV. WOLF
VIDEO: Med marijuana passes house
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Medical marijuana legislation is being sent to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, after several years of urging by parents of children suffering from debilitating seizures.
The Pennsylvania House passed the bill Wednesday, 149-46, approving legislation that had bounced between the House and Senate starting last May.
Wolf supports the bill and is poised to make Pennsylvania the 24th state to legalize a comprehensive medical marijuana program.
It wouldn't take effect for a month and the legislation's drafters expect it'll take two years to write regulations and get retailers opened.
But, in the meantime, a safe harbor provision allows parents to provide medical marijuana to their child if they buy it legally from another state.
Christine Brann says every day without a medical marijuana law in Pennsylvania is a risk for people who believe their suffering child may not survive another seizure. Brann's 5-year-old son is diagnosed with a severe form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome.
Gov. Wolf released the following statement on Wednesday:
"Today the House passed SB3, sending the medical marijuana legalization bill to my desk. I am proud and excited to sign this bill that will provide long overdue medical relief to patients and families who could benefit from this treatment. I applaud members of both parties in the House and Senate who have come together to help patients who have run out of medical options and want to thank the thousands of advocates who have fought tirelessly for this cause. I have met with patients and families, held roundtables, and urged action on this legislation since taking office, and it is encouraging that the hard work of these families has resulted in historic legislation."
