MA - HB2160: Jehlen Cosponsors Medical Marijuana Bill
HB2160: Jehlen Cosponsors Medical Marijuana Bill
Posted by CN Staff on May 13, 2009 at 08:44:20 PT
By Eric Tsetsi, Staff Writer
Source: Winchester Star
Winchester, MA -- Although she??s currently focusing most of her energy on the ongoing budget negotiations, Sen. Pat Jehlen, D-Winchester, is also co-sponsoring legislation to legalize the medical use of marijuana.
House Bill 2160 would regulate the medical use of marijuana approved by physicians and certified by the Department of Public Health. Jehlen is one of 12 legislators who have signed on as the bill??s co-sponsors.
According to Jehlen, it would essentially set up a standard for approval of medical marijuana for qualified patients.
??I??ve supported the medical use of marijuana for many years,? said Jehlen. ??People who have had or survived cancer would do anything they could to make their lives tolerable.?
Jehlen first became a proponent of medical marijuana when she was introduced to a constituent with stage-four melanoma, she said.
The man survived for six years while undergoing physically debilitating chemotherapy treatments. In order to make the treatments bearable, he smoked marijuana, according to Jehlen.
He eventually asked her to support the use of medical marijuana, and Jehlen became a proponent of the issue.
On Monday, May 19, a joint committee of public health will hold a hearing on the bill.
Massachusetts first adopted a medicinal marijuana law in 1992, which was signed into law by former Gov. William Weld, according to proponents of the bill.
The law, however, requires the Department of Public Health to supply the marijuana to approved patients, and the department has been unable to obtain such a supply, according to a press release from the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition.
Fourteen other states, including Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont, have enacted effective medical marijuana laws.
Source: Winchester Star (MA)
Author: Eric Tsetsi, Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Copyright: 2009 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact: [email protected]
URL: HB2160: Jehlen cosponsors medical marijuana bill - Winchester, MA - The Winchester Star
Website: Homepage - Winchester, MA - The Winchester Star
