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Cara Salemme is frustrated with the stagnancy of Senate Bill 1182. And the North Codorus Township mother of a child who suffers from epilepsy is not alone. Salemme and other medical marijuana advocates will convene on Harrisburg's capitol building March 31 in an effort to push legislators to move marijuana reform bills, including S.B. 1182, the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act. Two bills aimed at decriminalizing marijuana were introduced March 26 by Mike Stack, a Philadelphia-area senator and candidate for lieutenant governor. Unveiled Jan. 15 by a Republican and a Democrat, S.B. 1182 would legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania. The proposed legislation targets Charlotte's Web, a marijuana strain with high levels of cannabidiol oil, and low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient that gets users high.
And even though more than a quarter of the Senate is behind the bill, it has not moved from the Senate's Law and Justice Committee since its introduction. Salemme and her husband, Chris, have corresponded with several York County lawmakers, including state Reps. Seth Grove and Stan Saylor, about legalizing medical marijuana. "We're sending letters, talking to people and making phone calls and we keep hearing nothing," said Cara Salemme, whose 7-year-old son, Jackson, suffers multiple seizures every day. In the last two months, Jackson has been rushed to the hospital for his uncontrollable seizures that are coming in clusters, she said.
"There's always that, 'Is this the time he's not going to come out of this cluster?'" Cara Salemme said. "He's having a rough time and we need help." Medical marijuana is not being sought simply to treat childhood epilepsy. There are cancer patients and adults suffering chronic ailments ranging from joint pain to Alzheimer's who think medical marijuana could be their ticket to a better life. Ron Hess, a 67-year-old Springettsbury Township resident, has been suffering from dementia for several years. He believes if he could get access to the drug, his early-stage symptoms could be reversed. At the very least, Hess said, he could have his cognitive lifespan extended.
Hess is not one to make this increasingly popular political push about himself. "We're all in this together," Hess said. "I'm shoulder-to-shoulder with mothers of kids who have contractible seizure disorders, veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and cancer patients. That's what this rally is about." Advertised as the Keystone Cannabis Reform Rally, the gathering in Harrisburg will begin at 10 a.m. An advertisement for the rally reads: "Join us in educating our representatives and the public. Cannabis reform to: End the denial of safe, effective medicine. Stop destroying lives for a victimless crime. Save our environment while creating jobs."
With rallies a dime a dozen in the capitol, state Rep. Dan Moul, R-Conewago Township, said he seldom pays attention to them anymore. But the Adams County representative said he is not turning a blind eye to medical marijuana. He would like to see the United States Food and Drug Administration reclassify marijuana from a drug that is considered dangerous to one with potential health benefits. "The FDA is way behind the times on this," Moul said. "It's time somebody in the professional world takes a look at it and says, 'There could be something to this.'"
Like Moul, state Sen. Rich Alloway, R-Chambersburg, wants to continue to learn more about the potential medical uses of marijuana. Alloway said he wants to help sick people, but education is extremely important. The legislative process is slow, Alloway noted, particularly on complex issues like medical marijuana. Moul and Alloway, along with Hanover-area state Rep. Will Tallman, will hold a town hall meeting about medical marijuana on May 1 at Southeastern Adams Volunteer Emergency Services in Conewago Township, Adams County.
The public forum is open to anyone, and will feature medical professionals and families who want access to the drug, Alloway said. Alloway and Moul said they do not want Pennsylvania to become the next Colorado, which legalized recreational marijuana use last year. If he is available, Alloway said he would like to stop by the cannabis rally. But he said he is more concerned with hearing from his constituents at the May 1 town hall meeting. "If the purpose of the rally is to educate legislators and the public about medical cannabis, I think that's a great idea," Alloway said.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Eveningsun.com
Author: Mark Walters
Contact: Contact Us - Evening Sun
Website: Monday rally will push to legalize medical marijuana - Evening Sun
And even though more than a quarter of the Senate is behind the bill, it has not moved from the Senate's Law and Justice Committee since its introduction. Salemme and her husband, Chris, have corresponded with several York County lawmakers, including state Reps. Seth Grove and Stan Saylor, about legalizing medical marijuana. "We're sending letters, talking to people and making phone calls and we keep hearing nothing," said Cara Salemme, whose 7-year-old son, Jackson, suffers multiple seizures every day. In the last two months, Jackson has been rushed to the hospital for his uncontrollable seizures that are coming in clusters, she said.
"There's always that, 'Is this the time he's not going to come out of this cluster?'" Cara Salemme said. "He's having a rough time and we need help." Medical marijuana is not being sought simply to treat childhood epilepsy. There are cancer patients and adults suffering chronic ailments ranging from joint pain to Alzheimer's who think medical marijuana could be their ticket to a better life. Ron Hess, a 67-year-old Springettsbury Township resident, has been suffering from dementia for several years. He believes if he could get access to the drug, his early-stage symptoms could be reversed. At the very least, Hess said, he could have his cognitive lifespan extended.
Hess is not one to make this increasingly popular political push about himself. "We're all in this together," Hess said. "I'm shoulder-to-shoulder with mothers of kids who have contractible seizure disorders, veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and cancer patients. That's what this rally is about." Advertised as the Keystone Cannabis Reform Rally, the gathering in Harrisburg will begin at 10 a.m. An advertisement for the rally reads: "Join us in educating our representatives and the public. Cannabis reform to: End the denial of safe, effective medicine. Stop destroying lives for a victimless crime. Save our environment while creating jobs."
With rallies a dime a dozen in the capitol, state Rep. Dan Moul, R-Conewago Township, said he seldom pays attention to them anymore. But the Adams County representative said he is not turning a blind eye to medical marijuana. He would like to see the United States Food and Drug Administration reclassify marijuana from a drug that is considered dangerous to one with potential health benefits. "The FDA is way behind the times on this," Moul said. "It's time somebody in the professional world takes a look at it and says, 'There could be something to this.'"
Like Moul, state Sen. Rich Alloway, R-Chambersburg, wants to continue to learn more about the potential medical uses of marijuana. Alloway said he wants to help sick people, but education is extremely important. The legislative process is slow, Alloway noted, particularly on complex issues like medical marijuana. Moul and Alloway, along with Hanover-area state Rep. Will Tallman, will hold a town hall meeting about medical marijuana on May 1 at Southeastern Adams Volunteer Emergency Services in Conewago Township, Adams County.
The public forum is open to anyone, and will feature medical professionals and families who want access to the drug, Alloway said. Alloway and Moul said they do not want Pennsylvania to become the next Colorado, which legalized recreational marijuana use last year. If he is available, Alloway said he would like to stop by the cannabis rally. But he said he is more concerned with hearing from his constituents at the May 1 town hall meeting. "If the purpose of the rally is to educate legislators and the public about medical cannabis, I think that's a great idea," Alloway said.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Eveningsun.com
Author: Mark Walters
Contact: Contact Us - Evening Sun
Website: Monday rally will push to legalize medical marijuana - Evening Sun
