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Where Is Medicinal Marijuana Legal?

March 28, 2012 by · Comments Off on Where Is Medicinal Marijuana Legal? 

Where Is Medicinal Marijuana Legal?, Advocates of medicinal use of marijuana under a doctor’s care in a highly regulated environment held a press conference on March 27, touting some changes to their legislation and the bipartisan nature by which they’ve been able to garner support for the bill.

State Rep. Evalyn Merrick, a breast cancer survivor, has been working on the issue for more than six years and said she proposed the legislation after becoming elected and being able to sure her personal “very brief but life-saving experience” with medicinal marijuana use. Merrick said, while she didn’t discount other treatments, it was medical cannabis that helped her recover and “gave me the strength to live.”

Merrick said many of those who suffer from diseases like other cancers, glaucoma, MS, ALS, and other sicknesses have found relief from contemporary medicine side effects by using marijuana to relieve their symptoms.

“This legislation has strong, bipartisan support, in both chambers,” she said, noting that the full state Senate Health & Human Service Committee voted 5-0 to approve the bill. “It has time and time again passed with broad support.”

Merrick said she expected the bill, SB 409, to be approved in both houses. The issue also has strong support with the public.

“We look forward to having the governor’s support when it passes both houses,” she said.

State Sen. Jim Forsythe, R-Strafford, talked about some of the changes made to the proposal by law enforcement officials including regulations, compliance issues, and fines when people don’t obey the regulations.

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