5/26/2011 - State Senator Pat Vance (R-31) chairs the Public Health and Welfare Committee where the medical marijuana bill, SB 1003, has been assigned. And the bill may be staying right there. Senator Vance’s Chief of Staff, Amy Bolze, said that there is currently no intention to scheduling any public hearings. Further, she stated that there is no intention to bring the bill before the committee for a vote.
This leaves SB 1003 in a state of suspended animation, where it could remain for the entire legislative session.
Senator Daylin Leach, the main sponsor of SB 1003, described it as “… a common-sense bill that would simply give sick people access to medication so they feel better.”
When the bill was introduced in April Leach said, ”Countless studies show marijuana can alleviate the side effects of many diseases. It’s time we give Pennsylvanians access to the treatment they need and deserve.”
Two hearings were held before the House Health and Human Services Committee in 2009 and 2010. Senator Vance has stated that she felt those hearings had garnered enough public comment regarding the issue.
During those House hearings most of the testimony favored passage of a medical cannabis law. Doctors, religious leaders, medical experts and seriously ill residents made a compelling case for the bill.
Dr. Harry Swidler, an Emergency Medicine physician testified: “Marijuana is non-addicting. There is no physical dependence or physical withdrawal associated with its use. It is, from a practical standpoint, non-toxic. Marijuana is safer by some measures than any other drug. There is simply no known quantity of marijuana capable of killing a person.”
A Franklin & Marshall poll in 2010 indicated that 81 percent of Pennsylvania residents support having legalized access to marijuana for qualifying residents. Over 40 percent of the respondents in that poll described themselves as “conservative.”
There have been no Republican co-sponsors to the medical marijuana bill in either the Senate or the House, despite the notably strong support among voters.
Bolze said that Senator Vance’s office does receive regular communications via phone and email from residents who support the bill. But it seems unlikely that Vance will consider the issue before the Health and Welfare Committee unless her peers in the Senate show more interest.
Representative Mark B. Cohen originally introduced the medical marijuana bill to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Cohen’s office reported today that a co-sponsorship memorandum has been released. The bill is expected to be re-introduced in the House this summer.
Follow PA medical marijuana at www.pa4mmj.org
Read more at Freedomisgreen.com
- PA Congressman Chaka Fattah Supports Decriminalizing Marijuana
- Hundreds March In Philadelphia For Marijuana Reform
- Maine, New Jersey React To Federal Marijuana Letters
Chris Goldstein is a respected marijuana reform advocate. As a writer and radio broadcaster he has been covering cannabis news for over a decade. Questions? chris@freedomisgreen.com
Ever think that people are not calling your office to support medical marijuana because it is illegal and they don’t trust their own government? Get real.
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Close to 1,500 people contacted the Cohen office with over 99% contacting in favor of the bill. If the same number had contacted Senator Vance’s office, you can be certain they would be reacting differently.
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I contacted Patricia Vance, as have many, many others in support of the bill. She is not the least bit interested in the peoples will. Can she be recalled?
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Aren’t conservatives the same people who claim they want less government involvement in personal choice?
I guess they never learned the word “hypocritical”.
As a former California resident I can assure you that liberals are far more inclined to have less government involvement in personal choice. But you can’t seem to reason with the horribly undereducated people who blindly help the wealthy get rich off the backs of the working poor.
I guess that’s why conservatives love to cut the education budgets. Over time it increases their numbers with “global warming experts” who couldn’t pass a high school biology exam, “budget economists” who have never taken an economics class, and ignorant fools who will sell all of our access to clean water and environmental integrity for a pickup truck courtesy of out of state oil drillers.
I’m embarassed to be a Pennsylvanian.
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Marijuana needs to be legalized.
Why shouldn’t it be legalized;
Gateway Theory is a fail.
Stimulates brain growth, but seriously, if its dangerous to minors then they shouldn’t be allowed to use it.
Reducing “Crime”.
Anything is addicting, so dont blame marijuana.
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She is up for re election in 2012.
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Just sent an email after calling her office numerous times. I urge all to do the same please. Below is copy of email sent. Will post reply if I receive one?
Hello Senator Vance,
Hope this reaches you in better health than myself. Other than to
go into all my medical issues will just get straight to the point.
Am a PA transplant from the State of Washington. While in
Washington was prescribed Medical Marijuana to treat my medical
conditions. This helped me immensely and let me stop taking some of
my other prescribed medications which had worse side effects. Now
being here in PA I cannot break they law so am now back to the same
old nasty side effects from legal medications. Feel as if though I
am Dying. I beg of you to PLEASE schedule PA SB1003 for a vote. I
again, beg, of you to look at this in a more compassionate light.
Thanks for you time,
Jason Cole
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Senator Vance makes me SICK. She is a nurse, she should know what this herb can do for sick people!!! Once again this just goes to show that in the state of Pa, the voice of the people means NOTHING. This woman lied her way into office, typical politician, only to turn around and give the people of this state the finger. Showing no interest until the rest of her bipartisan political buddies show interest is a blatant slap in the face to the people who voted for her. MANY, MANY, sick people are suffering in this state while that bils sits on her desk? The woman is scum. Voting polls have show that way more than the majority of Pennsylvanians want it decriminalized/medically legal. Even the REPUBLICAN Party has close to a 50% vote FOR medical marijuana. How much longer do we as American citizens have to put up with our government telling us what is ok for us and what is not? It’s bullshit. Marijuana is a nonaddictive substance that is only vewed as dangerous because of decades of false propaganda. DEA Judge Francis Law stated in the mid 1980′s that marijuana is one of the safest , NATURAL, theraputic drugs known to man. This is coming from the friggin’ DEA!! The blatant disregard for what the people want is going to cause some problems very soon.
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Another disappointing observation. While the Rabbi in the video above is reading off soild MEDICAL and SCIENTIFIC FACTS, that rat faced woman behind him to his right, just consistantly shakes her head to the friggin’ FACTS. Why didn’t she just stick her fingers in her ears and go LA LA LA? This goes to show how brainwashed people are about the truths behind marijuana. She probably still thinks it grows tits on men. Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, which mean is has no medicinal effects and is grouped in with heroin and LSD. Yet cocaine, a known addictive and killer drug, is a Schedule 2 drug with proven medicinal effects? So the gateway theory really stands at marijuana leads to a less deadly drug like cocaine? Makes no sense. The REAL gateway drug is alcohol and we saw what happened with Prohibition. Prohibition doesn’t work!! Prohibition creates crime and violence. Cocaine has ONE proven medical purpose, it numbs pain. BIG DEAL!!! It kills Tens of thousands of people every year!! Marijuana has PROVEN medicinal effects for NUMEROUS ailments. The reason marijuana is still illegal is because the “Drug War” dishes out a lot of government paychecks. Certain people stand to make more $$$ while it is illegal, plain and simple. The “Wars ON Drugs” has been a failing money pit from day one yet it is still enforced? That is the perfect example of Washington DC saying, “So what? We will spend and do as we please reagrdless of what the American people want”.
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I went to doctor today for the pain in my knees artritis he gave me percoset if I take them the pain goes away BUT I can not go to the bathroom so the doctor gave me a pill for that this pill has side affects that may do damage to my liver all this and the perkisets are addictive and if you take to many you die. Call me stupid but if I smoke a joint my knee doesn’t have any pain my liver is ok and can go to the bathroom I do not become addicted and if I smoke to much I do not die. This is a no brainer pass the bill
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i honestly think its time to stand up and speak how we feel. being pa is a red state we will never gain medical use if people arent willing to say “we want to right to choose our medical options. we have the right to choose what we want and dont want to take to help our disorders.” until more people are willing to stand up im afraid the cause is doomed. as long as you are professional about your support (as well as outspoken) im sure they wont track you down at your house and ship you to guantanamo or anything. my point being for people to get what they feel is best sometimes your most be willing to step in the line of fire. i beg you please all pa residents who support the medical use of marijuana please make yourself herd and help those who are suffering or are to afraid to make their voice herd. this is the only way we (pa residents) will ever have the right to choose the medications we feel are best for us.
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I think it is time to pass this medical bill. People here in Pennsylvania actually need some medical marijuana. And not rely on pills that are highly addictive. People are in pain. Pass this bill.
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Painkillers are destroying my stomach whereas I could avoid this mandatory ulceration if the state would compassionately extend me the treatment I should be utilizing.
You see, I have no choice in the matter. My chronic illness assures the continuation of putrid, gritty use of addictive opiates that are destroying me inside out. It’s bad enough dealing with chronic pain and to have to add the burden on needless stomach repairs through surgery and additional medicines.
On top of opiate decay, I can’t go more than several hours without dosing even in between vomiting from it. I’m that dependent it on it mentally as well as physically. Yet I walked away from marijuana some three decades ago without any addictive consequence. I only recently had an opportunity to seek relief medicinally from marijuana and it was an experience I rather relished in comfort.
Please Pennsylvania Senators, please understand the benefits and cost-savings your decisions could offer our Commonwealth. Please pass this bill and extend the compassion you’re capable of.
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I am 59 yrs. old.Am in pain most of the time and it would be comforting to be able to use cannibus w/out worrying about being arrested I’m too sick.Is there a way to get it put on the ballot?Do we need a certain # of signatures?Let the people of Pa.decide if they want it legal or just for med. use.where do I sign?Any ideas???Never underestimate the power of the people when they are together for a just cause.
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legalize today! it’s healthy and organic!
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