A supporter protests for medical marijuana in Philadelphia
Because of the two-year cycle of the Pennsylvania General Assembly the medical marijuana bills are expected to be re-introduced soon. Advocates and legislators are also talking about some interesting changes.PA saw medical marijuana legislation introduced for the first time in 2009 by Rep. Mark B. Cohen of Philadelphia. In 2010 Senator Daylin Leach introduced the concurrent bill in upper chamber.The PA House Health and Human Services Committee held two important public hearings in Harrisburg and in Pittsburgh. Patients, physicians, advocates, religious leaders and even former law enforcement officers testified in favor of medical marijuana.This week the Board of Directors at the non-profit advocacy group Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana (PA4MMJ) held a conference call with Rep. Cohen to look at the effort for 2011.During the call Rep. Cohen emphasized his commitment to re-introducing the bill this year and the group also discussed some alterations to the language.Cohen continues to be a strong champion for the issue in PA, commenting on his Facebook page today:
“Changes in the bill will include naming the act after former Pennsylvania Governor Raymond P. Shafer, a leading critic of federal drug policies…”
Shafer, a Republican, was appointed by President Nixon to oversee a blue-ribbon commission to study marijuana. In 1972 the panel of experts concluded that personal marijuana use and possession should not be criminal. They also found that marijuana did not belong in Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act. *President Nixon ignored his own commission’s recommendation. Marijuana has remained in Schedule I since 1970. Each state has a drug scheduling system to match the federal code. Two states, Iowa and Oregon, have moved marijuana to Schedule II.There are also suggestions that provisions to re-schedule marijuana, at the state level, be included into the Pennsylvania medical cannabis legislation.A major shift for the issue in PA is the change in Governor. Ed Rendell would have likely signed a medical marijuana bill if it passed. But the newly elected Tom Corbett (the former state Attorney General) has voiced opposition to the issue.When Frankin&Marshall University conducted the most recent polling on the topic last year that showed a whopping 80% of state residents support the medical marijuana bill.It took over five years to pass legislation in New Jersey. Patients and advocates are striving for a less protracted fight in the Keystone State.Further updates on the status of medical marijuana in PA are expected soon – more info at www.pa4mmj.orgRep. Cohen’s medical marijuana page – http://www.pahouse.com/Cohen/med_marijuana_info.asp*Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act for the United States. Required findings for drugs to be placed in this schedule:– The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.– The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.– There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.