Wolf confirms his support of medical marijuana

HARRISBURG - On the same day that legislation was reintroduced to legalize medical marijuana, Gov. Wolf on Tuesday told parents of sick children that he would sign a bill if it reached his desk.

"I commend the bipartisan effort to allow Pennsylvania doctors to prescribe medical marijuana," Wolf said after an impromptu meeting in his reception room with several parents whose children suffer from seizures.

"We should not deny a physician's ability to recommend medical marijuana treatment for Pennsylvanians suffering from seizures, those affected by PTSD, cancer patients affected by chemotherapy, and Pennsylvanians suffering from many other ailments and conditions that could benefit from this effective, doctor-prescribed treatment."

The bill as introduced is similar to one that passed the Senate last year with broad bipartisan support but failed to advance in the House.

Cosponsor Sen. Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery) said the idea this year is to broaden the bill to expand the range of conditions that might benefit from medical marijuana and the types of delivery systems of the drug.

Leach said patients who have a recommendation from their physician would be allowed to purchase and use medical cannabis from centers licensed by a State Board of Medical Cannabis Licensing that would be created.

Under the bill, the growth, processing, and dispensing of medical cannabis would be regulated by the licensing board.

Cosponsor Sen. Mike Folmer (R., Lebanon) is chairman of the state government committee, which will hold a hearing on and review the bill. He said the legislation is aimed at helping those with chronic pain and children with seizures who have not found relief - and have even suffered harmful side effects - from traditional medicine.

"This is about providing safe, compassionate access to this potential medicine for those who choose to use it," Folmer said.

Lolly Bentch of Harrisburg was among the parents who met with Wolf on Tuesday. She said she was heartened by his support.

"We've been waiting for this moment for a long time," she said.

Her 7-year-old daughter, Anna Myers, suffers from intractable epilepsy, which causes about 150 seizures a day, she said.

"We've run out of traditional pharmaceuticals to treat her," Bentch said. "They don't work for her."

Last year, the political climate was cooler toward the legislation.

Then-Gov. Tom Corbett, though he supported a limited trial of cannabis oil on children with epilepsy, opposed full legalization language, as did House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny). So the Senate bill never saw a vote in the House.

The new House majority leader, Dave Reed (R., Indiana), said Monday he supports medical marijuana legalization.

There is disagreement among Pennsylvania health professionals on the issue. The state nurses' association supports the bill; the Pennsylvania Medical Society, which represents doctors, does not, saying it would rather see a bill providing more funding for research.