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The Maryland House of Delegates approved legislation Monday intended to make it possible for patients to use medical marijuana, which was legalized last year but remains unavailable in the state. Delegates voted 127 to 9 to allow "certified physicians" to discuss the option of medical marijuana with patients and then recommend its use. Those patients or their caregivers could obtain a 30-day supply from a licensed grower. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where approval is expected.
The bill was one of dozens approved by the House on Monday during a marathon meeting ahead of a "crossover" deadline, after which legislation that has not been approved by either the House or the Senate has longer odds of being passed before the legislative session ends in early April. Delegates also voted in favor of expanding pre-kindergarten classes to include more children, providing more oversight of the implementation of new education standards and "shielding" certain criminal records from the public record with the aim of making it easier for former convicts to get jobs.
The Senate convened Monday evening with its own full agenda that included bills that would boost annual tax credits given to movie and television companies that film in the state and require restaurants to urge patrons to alert their servers about any known food allergies the customers have before their orders are taken. The Senate's version of the "House of Cards" bill – sponsored by Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer (D-Baltimore County) – would increase the tax credit to $18.5 million. It passed by a vote of 45 to 1. The food allergy bill – sponsored by Sens. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Montgomery) and Christopher B. Shank (R-Washington) – would allow certain counties with limited legislative powers to pass laws requiring restaurants to urge patrons to alert servers about their food allergies. It also would require restaurants to have someone on staff who has completed a food allergen awareness training course. The measure passed 33 to 14.
Last year, Maryland lawmakers legalized the medical use of marijuana but limited distribution to a small number of approved "academic medical centers." None of those centers – including the University of Maryland Medical System and Johns Hopkins University – has been willing to participate. That has frustrated some patients and their advocates who want legal access to the drug. Del. Cheryl D. Glenn (D-Baltimore), who sponsored the legislation that passed out of the House on Monday, said that medical marijuana could improve the lives of some Marylanders. Access will be "very, very tightly restricted" to prevent recreational use of the drug, she said. Maryland has a commission that oversees medical marijuana in the state. It would be up to that commission to certify physicians, license growers and issue identification cards to patients or their caregivers. The commission would encourage growers to develop and offer medical marijuana in a range of forms, and collect data that could assist doctors in prescribing the medication.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Washingtonpost.com
Author: Jenna Johnson & John Wagner
Contact: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Website: Medical marijuana bill advances in Maryland - The Washington Post
The bill was one of dozens approved by the House on Monday during a marathon meeting ahead of a "crossover" deadline, after which legislation that has not been approved by either the House or the Senate has longer odds of being passed before the legislative session ends in early April. Delegates also voted in favor of expanding pre-kindergarten classes to include more children, providing more oversight of the implementation of new education standards and "shielding" certain criminal records from the public record with the aim of making it easier for former convicts to get jobs.
The Senate convened Monday evening with its own full agenda that included bills that would boost annual tax credits given to movie and television companies that film in the state and require restaurants to urge patrons to alert their servers about any known food allergies the customers have before their orders are taken. The Senate's version of the "House of Cards" bill – sponsored by Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer (D-Baltimore County) – would increase the tax credit to $18.5 million. It passed by a vote of 45 to 1. The food allergy bill – sponsored by Sens. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Montgomery) and Christopher B. Shank (R-Washington) – would allow certain counties with limited legislative powers to pass laws requiring restaurants to urge patrons to alert servers about their food allergies. It also would require restaurants to have someone on staff who has completed a food allergen awareness training course. The measure passed 33 to 14.
Last year, Maryland lawmakers legalized the medical use of marijuana but limited distribution to a small number of approved "academic medical centers." None of those centers – including the University of Maryland Medical System and Johns Hopkins University – has been willing to participate. That has frustrated some patients and their advocates who want legal access to the drug. Del. Cheryl D. Glenn (D-Baltimore), who sponsored the legislation that passed out of the House on Monday, said that medical marijuana could improve the lives of some Marylanders. Access will be "very, very tightly restricted" to prevent recreational use of the drug, she said. Maryland has a commission that oversees medical marijuana in the state. It would be up to that commission to certify physicians, license growers and issue identification cards to patients or their caregivers. The commission would encourage growers to develop and offer medical marijuana in a range of forms, and collect data that could assist doctors in prescribing the medication.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Washingtonpost.com
Author: Jenna Johnson & John Wagner
Contact: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Website: Medical marijuana bill advances in Maryland - The Washington Post
