Robert Celt
New Member
The House overwhelmingly approved a measure that would give sick children under the age of 18 access to non-smokeable medical marijuana.
The bill, which passed the House 129-13 shortly before midnight Wednesday, would give minors with severe epilepsy and terminal illnesses access to marijuana after the approval of two doctors.
Rep. Matthew Ritter, D-Hartford, said he knows the concept is a controversial topic that generates emails from constituents, however, he asked his fellow lawmakers to stick to the legislation. He said they worked hard with Connecticut pediatricians to make sure the legislation had the safeguards they wanted.
Ritter said he understands it's an emotional issue, but they worked hard to make it a responsible bill.
He said the medical conditions that qualify a minor to receive marijuana are not your "run of the mill headache." They are serious medical conditions that "you wouldn't wish for your loved ones."
The conditions included in the bill include terminal illness, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, uncontrolled intractable seizure disorders, or irreversible spinal cord injury with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity.
Ritter said the bulk of the public testimony came from parents of children who experience seizures. He said a parent testified her child would shake violently several times a day leaving the parent wondering how her child was able to survive.
The parent, Susan Meehan, tried cannabis oil and discovered that it reduced her daughter Cyndemae's seizures. Cyndemae died after the public hearing March.
"No one's lighting up," Ritter said.
He said it's a drop of oil on the tongue, and he added that it would be easy to say the Connecticut legislature is giving marijuana to kids, but "that is not what we are doing."
He said this will probably help fewer than 100 people, but it has the potential to be life altering for those families.
Some lawmakers expressed concern that Connecticut was putting physicians in a bad position because it would force them to violate federal law and prescribe an illegal substance. Others used the legislation as a platform to discuss their support for recreational marijuana.
Connecticut legalized medical marijuana for adults in 2012. There are nine dispensaries in the state serving more than 9,400 registered patients.
Connecticut is the only state with a medical marijuana program that doesn't give access to minors, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: House Approves Medical Marijuana For Sick Children In Connecticut
Author: Christine Stuart
Contact: New Haven Register
Photo Credit: Trevor Hughes
Website: New Haven Register
The bill, which passed the House 129-13 shortly before midnight Wednesday, would give minors with severe epilepsy and terminal illnesses access to marijuana after the approval of two doctors.
Rep. Matthew Ritter, D-Hartford, said he knows the concept is a controversial topic that generates emails from constituents, however, he asked his fellow lawmakers to stick to the legislation. He said they worked hard with Connecticut pediatricians to make sure the legislation had the safeguards they wanted.
Ritter said he understands it's an emotional issue, but they worked hard to make it a responsible bill.
He said the medical conditions that qualify a minor to receive marijuana are not your "run of the mill headache." They are serious medical conditions that "you wouldn't wish for your loved ones."
The conditions included in the bill include terminal illness, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, uncontrolled intractable seizure disorders, or irreversible spinal cord injury with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity.
Ritter said the bulk of the public testimony came from parents of children who experience seizures. He said a parent testified her child would shake violently several times a day leaving the parent wondering how her child was able to survive.
The parent, Susan Meehan, tried cannabis oil and discovered that it reduced her daughter Cyndemae's seizures. Cyndemae died after the public hearing March.
"No one's lighting up," Ritter said.
He said it's a drop of oil on the tongue, and he added that it would be easy to say the Connecticut legislature is giving marijuana to kids, but "that is not what we are doing."
He said this will probably help fewer than 100 people, but it has the potential to be life altering for those families.
Some lawmakers expressed concern that Connecticut was putting physicians in a bad position because it would force them to violate federal law and prescribe an illegal substance. Others used the legislation as a platform to discuss their support for recreational marijuana.
Connecticut legalized medical marijuana for adults in 2012. There are nine dispensaries in the state serving more than 9,400 registered patients.
Connecticut is the only state with a medical marijuana program that doesn't give access to minors, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: House Approves Medical Marijuana For Sick Children In Connecticut
Author: Christine Stuart
Contact: New Haven Register
Photo Credit: Trevor Hughes
Website: New Haven Register
