kung fu
07-06-2012, 07:13 AM
The Connecticut House of Representatives approved a bill legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes. According to the Associated Press, the vote passed 95-51 after a seven-hour debate.
Now the bill has to pass the Senate. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has said he’ll sign the bill into law.
A Quinnipiac Poll conducted in March shows that 68 percent of Connecticut voters support legalizing medical marijuana. More voters supported medical marijuana than allowing alcohol sales on Sunday.
Connecticut becomes the 17th medical marijuana state!
After years of effort, Connecticut is now the newest medical marijuana state! On May 31, Gov. Dannel Malloy made it official, signing HB 5389 into law. The Connecticut House of Representatives voted 96-51 to approve An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana on April 25, and the Senate followed suit in a 21-13 vote on May 6.
HB 5389 will allow state-registered patients or their caregivers to obtain marijuana from dispensaries, which in turn would obtain marijuana from licensed producers. Only pharmacists could apply on behalf of dispensaries. HB 5389’s qualifying medical conditions are cancer, glaucoma, HIV, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries causing spasticity, epilepsy, wasting, Crohn’s disease, and PTSD. The Department of Consumer Protection could add additional medical conditions.
HB 5389 provides for access through licensed dispensaries, which only pharmacists will be allowed to file applications for. Dispensaries may obtain marijuana from licensed producers, who will pay an application fee of at least $25,000.
Patients — who must be 18 or older — will be able to obtain a one-month supply, and the amount will be determined by the department. The bulk of the bill will go into effect on October 1, 2012, including a provision to allow patients to obtain a temporary registration to possess marijuana while the department implements the remainder of the act.
This victory comes despite saber-rattling from Connecticut’s U.S. attorney, who sent a letter on April 23 saying that dispensaries and growers are illegal under federal law and saying the Department of Justice could prosecute or enjoin them. Connecticut is the latest of several states to move forward with well-regulated dispensing programs despite receiving similar intimidating letters
Connecticut on Friday became the 17th U.S. state to legalize the medical use of marijuana.
The state's Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law legislation allowing licensed physicians to certify an adult patient's use of marijuana for medical purposes, according to a statement from the governor's office.
The new law puts in place restrictions to prevent the kind of abuse that has plagued some of the 16 other states and the District of Columbia where pot is legal for medical use.
"For years, we've heard from so many patients with chronic diseases who undergo treatments like chemotherapy or radiation and are denied the palliative benefits that medical marijuana would provide," Governor Malloy said.
"With careful regulation and safeguards, this law will allow a doctor and a patient to decide what is in that patient's best interest," he said.
Under the bill, patients and their caregivers must register with the Department of Consumer Protection. In addition, a doctor must certify there is a medical need for marijuana to be dispensed, including such debilitating conditions as cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or epilepsy.
Finally, only a pharmacist with a special license can dispense medical marijuana, according to the new law.
Now the bill has to pass the Senate. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has said he’ll sign the bill into law.
A Quinnipiac Poll conducted in March shows that 68 percent of Connecticut voters support legalizing medical marijuana. More voters supported medical marijuana than allowing alcohol sales on Sunday.
Connecticut becomes the 17th medical marijuana state!
After years of effort, Connecticut is now the newest medical marijuana state! On May 31, Gov. Dannel Malloy made it official, signing HB 5389 into law. The Connecticut House of Representatives voted 96-51 to approve An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana on April 25, and the Senate followed suit in a 21-13 vote on May 6.
HB 5389 will allow state-registered patients or their caregivers to obtain marijuana from dispensaries, which in turn would obtain marijuana from licensed producers. Only pharmacists could apply on behalf of dispensaries. HB 5389’s qualifying medical conditions are cancer, glaucoma, HIV, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries causing spasticity, epilepsy, wasting, Crohn’s disease, and PTSD. The Department of Consumer Protection could add additional medical conditions.
HB 5389 provides for access through licensed dispensaries, which only pharmacists will be allowed to file applications for. Dispensaries may obtain marijuana from licensed producers, who will pay an application fee of at least $25,000.
Patients — who must be 18 or older — will be able to obtain a one-month supply, and the amount will be determined by the department. The bulk of the bill will go into effect on October 1, 2012, including a provision to allow patients to obtain a temporary registration to possess marijuana while the department implements the remainder of the act.
This victory comes despite saber-rattling from Connecticut’s U.S. attorney, who sent a letter on April 23 saying that dispensaries and growers are illegal under federal law and saying the Department of Justice could prosecute or enjoin them. Connecticut is the latest of several states to move forward with well-regulated dispensing programs despite receiving similar intimidating letters
Connecticut on Friday became the 17th U.S. state to legalize the medical use of marijuana.
The state's Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law legislation allowing licensed physicians to certify an adult patient's use of marijuana for medical purposes, according to a statement from the governor's office.
The new law puts in place restrictions to prevent the kind of abuse that has plagued some of the 16 other states and the District of Columbia where pot is legal for medical use.
"For years, we've heard from so many patients with chronic diseases who undergo treatments like chemotherapy or radiation and are denied the palliative benefits that medical marijuana would provide," Governor Malloy said.
"With careful regulation and safeguards, this law will allow a doctor and a patient to decide what is in that patient's best interest," he said.
Under the bill, patients and their caregivers must register with the Department of Consumer Protection. In addition, a doctor must certify there is a medical need for marijuana to be dispensed, including such debilitating conditions as cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or epilepsy.
Finally, only a pharmacist with a special license can dispense medical marijuana, according to the new law.