Marijuana Bill Clears Delaware Senate Panel
Posted by CN Staff on June 04, 2009 at 07:02:42 PT
By Randall Chase, Associated Press Writer
Source: Associated Press

Dover, Del. -- A bill that would allow the use of medical marijuana in Delaware cleared a Senate committee Wednesday with no opposition.

The Senate Health and Social Services committee released the bill Wednesday after a 90-minute hearing in which no one spoke against it. Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, the chief sponsor, said amendments to clarify language in the bill will be drafted before it is brought up for a vote by the full Senate.

As written, the bill would allow people with debilitating medical conditions such as glaucoma, cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis to use marijuana to treat their conditions or alleviate their symptoms.

Anyone seeking to use medical marijuana would be required to submit written certification from a medical practitioner licensed to prescribe drugs that it likely would provide therapeutic benefit. The patient, or a designated caregiver, would then receive an identification card permitting him or her to grow marijuana or purchase it from state-regulated, nonprofit "compassion centers."

The measure, based on model legislation developed by the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project, would allow a qualifying patient or caregiver to possess up to 12 marijuana plants and up to six ounces of usable marijuana. Supporters said that amount is less than what the federal government has determined would be a one-month supply for patients in an investigational drug program.

Noah Mamber, legislative analyst with the Marijuana Policy Project, said 13 states currently have medical marijuana laws, and the legislation is pending in a handful of others.

The Medical Society of Delaware has decided not to take a position on the bill, according to Robert Byrd, a lobbyist for the organization. Byrd said members of the society's legislative committee discussed the bill Monday, and there were "very strong feelings" on both sides of the issue.

Sen. Patricia Blevins expressed concern that if the list of conditions eligible for treatment with medical marijuana is too broad, the bill could face difficulty passing muster with lawmakers and law enforcement officials.

"We may have difficulty in getting the necessary relief to the people who need it," said Blevins, D-Elsmere.

But Henry, D-Wilmington, responded that "pain is a relative thing," and that she was wary of narrowly limiting the conditions for which medical marijuana might be useful.

"We don't know what will always help and benefit a person," she said.

Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Author: Randall Chase, Associated Press Writer
Published: June 4, 2009
Copyright: 2009 The Associated Press
URL: Medical marijuana bill clears Delaware Senate panel â?¢ Region (www.HometownAnnapolis.com - The Capital)
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