Christine Green
New Member
Wheeling - Two Northern Panhandle delegates - one Democrat and one Republican - have joined in sponsoring a bill that would decriminalize certain marijuana use in West Virginia by people 21 and older and generate at least $40 million in annual tax revenue for the state.
Democrat Shawn Fluharty of Ohio County and Republican Pat McGeehan of Hancock County were among several delegates who introduced House Bill 114 this week during a special session of the West Virginia Legislature. Lawmakers left Charleston for the holiday weekend Friday, but the session resumes Tuesday.
Lawmakers have been called to the Capitol to pass a balanced state budget by June 30, which is mandated by the West Virginia Constitution. The Legislature seeks to bridge an anticipated $270 million shortfall in the budget.
The House passed a version of the budget Friday, with the Senate set to consider it Tuesday.
HB 114, as introduced, would permit the personal use, growth and possession in West Virginia of up to 2 ounces of marijuana by persons over the age of 21. Those using marijuana would be required to buy a "marijuana stamp" for a price of $500 annually, and these would be available at establishments that sell liquor. These establishments would not be required to sell the stamp if they choose not to do so.
People with prescriptions for medical marijuana, meanwhile, would be able to possess up to 6 ounces of usable marijuana, as well as 12 mature marijuana plants and six seedlings.
McGeehan and Fluharty both say their support for marijuana decriminalization isn't based on economic concerns. They instead see it as a means of providing needed health care for those who would physically benefit from marijuana use.
Fluharty admits the decriminalization of marijuana could financially benefit the state. He expects the legalization of medical marijuana alone could generate as much as $40 million annually for West Virginia, while the legalization of the drug overall could result in more than $100 million annually in tax revenue.
Marijuana often is prescribed for cancer patients suffering with pain resulting from chemotherapy, as well as children with epilepsy. West Virginia law currently prohibits the purchase of marijuana in the state.
Fluharty, meanwhile, said there is no reason somebody should be considered a criminal for getting medical treatment.
"We have a health crisis in this state intertwined with a budget crisis," Fluharty said. "We just spent a week debating a tobacco tax. For some reason, we would rather spend time debating (the taxing of) tobacco - which causes cancer, while marijuana treats cancer. Our goal is to get a discussion started, and we're not even talking about this yet as an alternative revenue source, but as a means for the sick getting treatment."
And McGeehan said legalizing marijuana also will keep those who buy marijuana on the black market from being introduced to more serious drugs.
"In my analysis, I have studied many different economic reports on the black markets of West Virginia, and many of the customers are very young people," McGeehan said. "They first go to buy marijuana in the black market, and this exposes them to the more deadly drugs. ... If the prohibition is ended on marijuana, even the medical form, about 40 percent of the marijuana users will be removed from the market of those selling them more serious drugs."
He said as the heroin epidemic in West Virginia worsens, "nobody wants to do anything logically about it."
"The reports say if you were able to decriminalize marijuana in some form, there would be 25 percent fewer overdose deaths in the state," McGeehan said. "I've had over 400 people contact me and tell me either they were a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder who was using marijuana, or that they have children who are epileptic and they are buying marijuana on the black market to relieve the symptoms. And there are cancer patients who are using marijuana to relieve their pain as they're going through chemotherapy. You have to think logically about it."
Often those experiencing great pain are prescribed painkillers, and it has been determined marijuana is less addictive than such medication, according to McGeehan.
The bill has six sponsors, three from each party. Republicans include McGeehan, Bill Flanagan of Monongalia County and Michael Folk of Berkeley County. Among the Democrats are Fluharty, lead sponsor Mike Pushkin of Kanawha County and Sean Hornbuckle of Cabell County.
Flanagan, a cancer survivor, has spoken on the House floor about his battles with chemotherapy and how marijuana has helped him.
"Right now, people with cancer have to decide between doing something to help their pain or being a criminal," Fluharty said. "That shouldn't be on someone's conscience going through treatment. It's a conversation that needs to start right now. We have to look out for the health of all citizens, and this is a way to look out for citizens and save money. How many marijuana users are we locking up who are non-violent offenders? Look at the amount we would save just by doing this."
News Moderator: Christine Green 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Local delegates sponsor marijuana bill - WeirtonDailyTimes.com | news, sports, jobs - Weirton, Hancock County — Weirton Daily Times
Author: Joselyn King
Contact: (304) 748-0606
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: WeirtonDailyTimes.com | news, sports, jobs - Weirton, Hancock County — Weirton Daily Times
Democrat Shawn Fluharty of Ohio County and Republican Pat McGeehan of Hancock County were among several delegates who introduced House Bill 114 this week during a special session of the West Virginia Legislature. Lawmakers left Charleston for the holiday weekend Friday, but the session resumes Tuesday.
Lawmakers have been called to the Capitol to pass a balanced state budget by June 30, which is mandated by the West Virginia Constitution. The Legislature seeks to bridge an anticipated $270 million shortfall in the budget.
The House passed a version of the budget Friday, with the Senate set to consider it Tuesday.
HB 114, as introduced, would permit the personal use, growth and possession in West Virginia of up to 2 ounces of marijuana by persons over the age of 21. Those using marijuana would be required to buy a "marijuana stamp" for a price of $500 annually, and these would be available at establishments that sell liquor. These establishments would not be required to sell the stamp if they choose not to do so.
People with prescriptions for medical marijuana, meanwhile, would be able to possess up to 6 ounces of usable marijuana, as well as 12 mature marijuana plants and six seedlings.
McGeehan and Fluharty both say their support for marijuana decriminalization isn't based on economic concerns. They instead see it as a means of providing needed health care for those who would physically benefit from marijuana use.
Fluharty admits the decriminalization of marijuana could financially benefit the state. He expects the legalization of medical marijuana alone could generate as much as $40 million annually for West Virginia, while the legalization of the drug overall could result in more than $100 million annually in tax revenue.
Marijuana often is prescribed for cancer patients suffering with pain resulting from chemotherapy, as well as children with epilepsy. West Virginia law currently prohibits the purchase of marijuana in the state.
Fluharty, meanwhile, said there is no reason somebody should be considered a criminal for getting medical treatment.
"We have a health crisis in this state intertwined with a budget crisis," Fluharty said. "We just spent a week debating a tobacco tax. For some reason, we would rather spend time debating (the taxing of) tobacco - which causes cancer, while marijuana treats cancer. Our goal is to get a discussion started, and we're not even talking about this yet as an alternative revenue source, but as a means for the sick getting treatment."
And McGeehan said legalizing marijuana also will keep those who buy marijuana on the black market from being introduced to more serious drugs.
"In my analysis, I have studied many different economic reports on the black markets of West Virginia, and many of the customers are very young people," McGeehan said. "They first go to buy marijuana in the black market, and this exposes them to the more deadly drugs. ... If the prohibition is ended on marijuana, even the medical form, about 40 percent of the marijuana users will be removed from the market of those selling them more serious drugs."
He said as the heroin epidemic in West Virginia worsens, "nobody wants to do anything logically about it."
"The reports say if you were able to decriminalize marijuana in some form, there would be 25 percent fewer overdose deaths in the state," McGeehan said. "I've had over 400 people contact me and tell me either they were a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder who was using marijuana, or that they have children who are epileptic and they are buying marijuana on the black market to relieve the symptoms. And there are cancer patients who are using marijuana to relieve their pain as they're going through chemotherapy. You have to think logically about it."
Often those experiencing great pain are prescribed painkillers, and it has been determined marijuana is less addictive than such medication, according to McGeehan.
The bill has six sponsors, three from each party. Republicans include McGeehan, Bill Flanagan of Monongalia County and Michael Folk of Berkeley County. Among the Democrats are Fluharty, lead sponsor Mike Pushkin of Kanawha County and Sean Hornbuckle of Cabell County.
Flanagan, a cancer survivor, has spoken on the House floor about his battles with chemotherapy and how marijuana has helped him.
"Right now, people with cancer have to decide between doing something to help their pain or being a criminal," Fluharty said. "That shouldn't be on someone's conscience going through treatment. It's a conversation that needs to start right now. We have to look out for the health of all citizens, and this is a way to look out for citizens and save money. How many marijuana users are we locking up who are non-violent offenders? Look at the amount we would save just by doing this."
News Moderator: Christine Green 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Local delegates sponsor marijuana bill - WeirtonDailyTimes.com | news, sports, jobs - Weirton, Hancock County — Weirton Daily Times
Author: Joselyn King
Contact: (304) 748-0606
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: WeirtonDailyTimes.com | news, sports, jobs - Weirton, Hancock County — Weirton Daily Times
