State Sens. Mike Folmer (R) and Daylin Leach (D) took the lead for a second year in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana debate. This year, however, they enjoy the company of 23 senators in sponsoring a bill.
Folmer and Leach held a press conference Tuesday announcing the Medical Cannabis Act (S.B. 3). The state Senate passed a medical marijuana bill last year, but it expired without a hearing in the House. The new bill creates a regulated medical marijuana system in Pennsylvania using the same language approved by a 43-7 floor vote last September.
With a new, receptive governor in office and support in the House, Pennsylvania appears ready for marijuana policy reform.
“There was a whole different feel being at the Capitol,” said Dana Ulrich by phone Wednesday. “It was heartwarming to see other senators standing up there.”
[Photo courtesy: Campaign for Compassion]
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I would like to see Pennsylvania, the “keystone” state, take the lead on the east coast for restoring hemp cannabis to its 1650-1850 status of fully free, and unregulated; except to ask farmers to grow even more of it. For your health, economy, and state of mind!
While marijuana is a state issue, I think industrial hemp is going to be restored through federal action. I know there are plenty of advocates in Pennsylvania fighting for hemp, though, especially in the more rural parts of the state.
That would be welcome. The “fed” really needs to be stuffed back into its cage on this and a host of other topics too. Without the benefits of the federal usurpations, the hemp prohibitionists might not enjoy as much “clout” on a state level.
I was pleasantly surprised to find support for medical marijuana and hemp among the Pennsylvania Amish who come to the Trenton Farmer’s Market a couple times a week. One of them noticed my CMMNJ pin and started talking about it.