The Pennsylvania House Health and Human Services Committee will hold a satellite hearing on medical marijuana in Pittsburgh, PA on August 19, 2010.
HHS Committee Chair Representative Frank Oliver issued a memo yesterday:
Please be advised that on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. in the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health at 130 Desoto Street, Room G-23, Pittsburgh, PA 15320, there will be a public hearing on House Bill 1393.
Representative Mark B. Cohen introduced HB1393 and the first public hearings took place in Harrisburg last December. Residents living with chronic medical conditions, doctors, medical professionals and attorneys testified in favor of the bill.
Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana (PA4MMJ) is a statewide non-profit advocacy group promoting passage of the bill. Patrick Nightingale Esq., a criminal defense attorney in Pittsburgh, serves on the Board of Directors for PA4MMJ and coordinates efforts in Western Pennsylvania.
Nightingale commented on the memo, “We at Pittsburgh NORML and Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana are thrilled to learn of the upcoming hearing. We have heard from dozens of current medicinal patients or potential medicinal cannabis patients - veterans, retired school teachers, young people, grandparents, professionals and blue collar workers - all united by the belief that marijuana can provide relief for their medical conditions.”
Nightingale added, “ We believe that passage of the Barry Busch Compassionate Use Act will greatly benefit the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania just as it benefits the citizens of 14 other states and the District of Columbia who's legislatures have enacted medicinal marijuana laws.”
A Franklin&Marshall poll conducted this year showed that 80% of PA residents support the medical marijuana legislation.
The twenty-six-member House HHS committee includes HB 1393’s co-sponsor Representative Tony Payton Jr.
Senator Daylin Leach introduced the companion bill, SB 1350, earlier this year. Senator Jim Ferlo of the Pittsburgh area recently co-sponsored the medical marijuana legislation. Senate committee hearings are expected in the fall.
Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana will be holding rally events, information seminars and fundraisers across the Commonwealth to raise awareness for HB 1393 and SB 1350.
by Chris Goldstein, the Philadephia NORML Examiner. Chris is on the Board of Directors at PhillyNORML and PA4MMJ. He may be contacted through media@phillynorml.org
>>Subscribe to the Philadelphia NORML Examiner – it’s free!
PA: Two new Senators co-sponsor medical marijuana bill
Philadelphia: Details of the new marijuana procedure
New poll shows 8 in 10 support medical marijuana in PA
PA: Quinnipiac poll 59% say medical marijuana is a ‘good idea’
VIDEO: Philadelphia 2010 marijuana march speeches by PhillyNORML and PA4MMJ
PA Senate considers medical marijuana, patients call for support
VIDEO: PhillyNORML 2010 Global Marijuana March
AIDS Law Project, ACLU-PA endorse medical marijuana
Conservative Rabbi backs PA medical marijuana
Video: PA medical marijuana hearings - Son speaks of dying mother
Philly: White women rarely arrested for pot
Comments
So many people will be helped by this program. No longer will people have to keep taking large doses of toxic narcotics and instead will have the ability to ask their personal care physician to allow them to participate in the cannabis program.
We have worked diligently to better the lives of the suffering and we can assure the good conservative folk of Pennsylvania that with proper controls for the production and a medically based program this will work for everyone including law enforcement.
Rick Rosio
Montana Pain Management
www.montanapm.com
Yeah, right. The biggest market for medical marijuana right now are teens who just graduated out of high school. Many of them are getting their medical marijuana cards even without a debilitating disease. All they have to say is that they have aches, pains and insomnia. This is the biggest crock pot joke in the history of health management. California's medical marijuana business is booming because of teens buying them and the politicians do not even know that this is happening. They all think they are helping people with debilitating illnesses well, in fact they are building a whole generation of potheads. Wake up and watch your teens right now legally enjoying their medical marijuanas with their friends. California is building a whole generation of youth that will develop psychosis and mental issues later in life if this is abused.
Hope it passes
tij, you obviously think all other medicinal marijuana programs are run as loosely as california and that just isn't the case.
develop psuchosis and mental issues? do you have any studies to back your asinine statements? no?..figures.
I chuckle at comments like Tj's. Quite asinine if you ask me.
I smoke marijuana daily and I will graduate college next may with a GPA above 3.00. Shut down.
Echoing Phil, I'm high all day and night, and >I< graduated college with a 3.77 in an honors philosophy major!! REALLY shut down!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!