Jacob Bell
New Member
A pair of bills that would legalize the use of marijuana in Maryland for medicinal purposes will face public hearings over the next two weeks in Annapolis.
Del. Dan Morhaim, a Democrat representing Owings Mills and Pikesville in the 11th District -- and the only medical doctor in the legislature -- is a lead sponsor of the House bill that is set for a hearing Monday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. in the Judiciary Committee in Annapolis.
The Senate version of the medical marijuana bill will have its hearing Thursday, March 3, 1 p.m., in that chamber's Judicial Proceedings Committee.
"We have a safe, responsible bill that has won strong bipartisan support," Morhaim said Feb. 21.
He said the bills have support from a number of Republicans and Democrats in both chambers -- its sponsors include 10th District Democrats Sen. Delores Kelly and Del. Emmett Burns (Woodlawn and Catonsville); and Republicans Sen. J.B. Jennings of the 7th District (Perry Hall and White Marsh) and Del. Wade Kach of District 5B (Timonium and Jacksonville).
"You are seeing people you don't normally see work across party lines," Morhaim said. "This bill would not be earning this kind of broad base support from both parties unless this (bill) was responsibly done."
The legislation would allow marijuana to be obtained and used for bona-fide medical purposes only -- namely for patients suffering from certain chronic illnesses that produce severe pain, severe nausea or seizures.
Among its provisions, the bill would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to issue a request for proposals to select authorized growers of marijuana for medical use, and work with the state's Department of Agriculture to create certain requirements and standards for authorized growers.
Similar legislation exists in at least 14 states and the District of Columbia, Morhaim said, and was introduced last year in Maryland but was held up by a House committee.
Not all county legislators support the bills.
"There are a lot of moving parts in that bill," said Del. Steven DeBoy on his hesitancy in supporting it.
"My concerns are, for the pharmacists, are they now going to be dispensing marijuana? That's a concern," said DeBoy, a Democrat who represents Catonsville and Arbutus in District 12A.
"Is the state going to go into the business of growing marijuana? I don't want the state in the growing business," he said.
DeBoy, a former Baltimore County police officer, said concerns about the impact of the bill on public safety, state pharmacists and the consumer all need to be addressed further.
But state Sen. Jim Brochin of Towson's 42nd District said he's supported the measure in the past, and will support it again this year.
"I still think it's important to give relief to people who are suffering from the debilitating effects of chronic illness," said Brochin.
Brochin said he believes Maryland can learn from other states' successes and failures with similar legislation in terms of safety and implementation.
"You really have to be careful with a bill like to this make sure it's not abused," he said.
Del. Steve Lafferty, also of the 42nd District, said he's not worried about abuse.
"If we can provide one more opportunity for a medication that can alleviate pain and address some of the struggles cancer patients have then we should explore that," Lafferty said.
News Hawk- Guitarman313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: explorebaltimorecounty.com
Author: Steve Schuster
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Tribune Interactive, Inc.
Website: Baltimore County legislators choose sides on medical marijuana bills
Del. Dan Morhaim, a Democrat representing Owings Mills and Pikesville in the 11th District -- and the only medical doctor in the legislature -- is a lead sponsor of the House bill that is set for a hearing Monday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. in the Judiciary Committee in Annapolis.
The Senate version of the medical marijuana bill will have its hearing Thursday, March 3, 1 p.m., in that chamber's Judicial Proceedings Committee.
"We have a safe, responsible bill that has won strong bipartisan support," Morhaim said Feb. 21.
He said the bills have support from a number of Republicans and Democrats in both chambers -- its sponsors include 10th District Democrats Sen. Delores Kelly and Del. Emmett Burns (Woodlawn and Catonsville); and Republicans Sen. J.B. Jennings of the 7th District (Perry Hall and White Marsh) and Del. Wade Kach of District 5B (Timonium and Jacksonville).
"You are seeing people you don't normally see work across party lines," Morhaim said. "This bill would not be earning this kind of broad base support from both parties unless this (bill) was responsibly done."
The legislation would allow marijuana to be obtained and used for bona-fide medical purposes only -- namely for patients suffering from certain chronic illnesses that produce severe pain, severe nausea or seizures.
Among its provisions, the bill would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to issue a request for proposals to select authorized growers of marijuana for medical use, and work with the state's Department of Agriculture to create certain requirements and standards for authorized growers.
Similar legislation exists in at least 14 states and the District of Columbia, Morhaim said, and was introduced last year in Maryland but was held up by a House committee.
Not all county legislators support the bills.
"There are a lot of moving parts in that bill," said Del. Steven DeBoy on his hesitancy in supporting it.
"My concerns are, for the pharmacists, are they now going to be dispensing marijuana? That's a concern," said DeBoy, a Democrat who represents Catonsville and Arbutus in District 12A.
"Is the state going to go into the business of growing marijuana? I don't want the state in the growing business," he said.
DeBoy, a former Baltimore County police officer, said concerns about the impact of the bill on public safety, state pharmacists and the consumer all need to be addressed further.
But state Sen. Jim Brochin of Towson's 42nd District said he's supported the measure in the past, and will support it again this year.
"I still think it's important to give relief to people who are suffering from the debilitating effects of chronic illness," said Brochin.
Brochin said he believes Maryland can learn from other states' successes and failures with similar legislation in terms of safety and implementation.
"You really have to be careful with a bill like to this make sure it's not abused," he said.
Del. Steve Lafferty, also of the 42nd District, said he's not worried about abuse.
"If we can provide one more opportunity for a medication that can alleviate pain and address some of the struggles cancer patients have then we should explore that," Lafferty said.
News Hawk- Guitarman313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: explorebaltimorecounty.com
Author: Steve Schuster
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Tribune Interactive, Inc.
Website: Baltimore County legislators choose sides on medical marijuana bills
