Robert Celt
New Member
Few victories are sweeter than those that have been a long time coming.
Three area lawmakers can attest to that fact.
State Sens. Mike Folmer and Daylin Leach and state Rep. Jim Cox played critical roles in the passage of the new medical marijuana law. After years of debate spanning two administrations, Gov. Tom Wolf signed the measure into law last week.
A Lebanon County Republican, Folmer persuaded his Senate Republican colleagues who control that chamber.
Cox, a Spring Township Republican, pushed the bill in the House. Leach, a Montgomery County Democrat, first introduced a medical marijuana bill nearly six years ago and fought hard for it ever since.
Their work offers the prospect of relief to thousands of Pennsylvanians with serious health issues. The law provides comfort to the family members who have begged for some remedy to ease the suffering of their loved ones.
The three lawmakers also showed that Harrisburg can be more than a punch line or a poster child for political gridlock. Despite maddening budget stalemates, they demonstrated that the Capitol can be a place where people come together and solve serious problems.
By remembering their humanity, they made history.
Evoking 'Mr. Smith'
Folmer's leadership on the effort earned praise from both sides of the aisle.
The Democratic governor visited Folmer's office last week and publicly praised his work on the law. Earlier this month, state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman saluted Folmer in the Capitol.
"It's not often we make history in this chamber," said Corman, a Centre County Republican.
Corman recalled the classic Jimmy Stewart movie, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," which tells the story of an idealistic lawmaker who swayed cynical lawmakers.
"It was a fun movie, but it was a movie," Corman said.
Choking up, Corman said, "Mr. Smith came to Harrisburg." The Senate chamber applauded Folmer.
Corman described Folmer's persistent efforts to persuade lawmakers to get behind the bill. Corman conceded that he was one of those who needed Folmer to help him see the light.
"One by one he picked up support," Corman said of Folmer. "Maybe after the first year, he had about four (votes).
"He changed hearts, he changed minds."
At the celebration of the signing of the medical marijuana bill, a jubilant Folmer shouted, "We won!"
Folmer saluted the parents, legislative staffers and advocates who fought for the bill.
"This was a total, total team effort," Folmer said.
Thinking of family
Cox hasn't received such widespread recognition for his critical role in the passage of the legislation. Cox worked on the bill for 18 months. He co-sponsored the bill in the House in the 2013-14 legislative session, but the measure bogged down. He introduced the bill again in January 2015.
Cox drew inspiration from a mother's love. Speaking on the House floor this month, Cox said he received a phone call from Dana Ulrich, a Spring Township resident and a passionate advocate for medical marijuana. Ulrich hopes it could help her daughter, Lorelei, who suffers hundreds of seizures a day.
"That conversation was the beginning of my journey," Cox said on the House floor.
"She said, 'Think of your own family,' " said Cox, a father of five.
Cox's daughter, who is 17, had open-heart surgery at 4 months and other subsequent operations. He thought of other family members who have had health challenges. And then, he thought of how many others were in his shoes, but without the prospect of relief.
"Doctors are in the best position to make the call on what their patients should be receiving," Cox said on the House floor.
He said lawmakers need to give patients and families more than just a medical option: They needed to provide hope.
'We stopped being politicians'
Leach fought the longest for the bill.
"When I first introduced the medical marijuana bill in 2010, I couldn't get a single co-sponsor," Leach said at the bill signing. "I could not have imagined that a team like this would eventually rally around this bill."
Known for an off-beat sense of humor, Leach was in his glory at the press conference celebrating the signing of the law.
"It is truly a humbling experience, and as many of you know, I am not given to bouts of excessive humbleness," Leach said.
Turning serious, Leach praised the hundreds of advocates who camped out in the Capitol and "turned this building into their home over the last couple years to make this happen."
Leach noted the unusual political alliances that emerged to fight for medical marijuana. The liberal Leach called Folmer "my favorite right-wing lunatic," drawing laughs as he acknowledged that the two are about a million miles apart politically.
The two displayed genuine warmth toward each other at the bill signing. When Folmer introduced Leach at the press conference, he said, "It was a real honor to work with you, brother."
On this issue, their political philosophies didn't matter. Folmer and Leach worked together to coax their colleagues in the Capitol.
"We studied, we begged, we cajoled and we argued, and we convinced our fellow legislators to join us," Leach said.
At the bill signing, Leach explained, "We stopped being politicians and started being human beings."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: PA: The Lawmakers Who Wouldn't Give Up On Medical Marijuana
Author: Ron Southwick
Photo Credit: Joe Hermitt
Website: Berks & Beyond
Three area lawmakers can attest to that fact.
State Sens. Mike Folmer and Daylin Leach and state Rep. Jim Cox played critical roles in the passage of the new medical marijuana law. After years of debate spanning two administrations, Gov. Tom Wolf signed the measure into law last week.
A Lebanon County Republican, Folmer persuaded his Senate Republican colleagues who control that chamber.
Cox, a Spring Township Republican, pushed the bill in the House. Leach, a Montgomery County Democrat, first introduced a medical marijuana bill nearly six years ago and fought hard for it ever since.
Their work offers the prospect of relief to thousands of Pennsylvanians with serious health issues. The law provides comfort to the family members who have begged for some remedy to ease the suffering of their loved ones.
The three lawmakers also showed that Harrisburg can be more than a punch line or a poster child for political gridlock. Despite maddening budget stalemates, they demonstrated that the Capitol can be a place where people come together and solve serious problems.
By remembering their humanity, they made history.
Evoking 'Mr. Smith'
Folmer's leadership on the effort earned praise from both sides of the aisle.
The Democratic governor visited Folmer's office last week and publicly praised his work on the law. Earlier this month, state Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman saluted Folmer in the Capitol.
"It's not often we make history in this chamber," said Corman, a Centre County Republican.
Corman recalled the classic Jimmy Stewart movie, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," which tells the story of an idealistic lawmaker who swayed cynical lawmakers.
"It was a fun movie, but it was a movie," Corman said.
Choking up, Corman said, "Mr. Smith came to Harrisburg." The Senate chamber applauded Folmer.
Corman described Folmer's persistent efforts to persuade lawmakers to get behind the bill. Corman conceded that he was one of those who needed Folmer to help him see the light.
"One by one he picked up support," Corman said of Folmer. "Maybe after the first year, he had about four (votes).
"He changed hearts, he changed minds."
At the celebration of the signing of the medical marijuana bill, a jubilant Folmer shouted, "We won!"
Folmer saluted the parents, legislative staffers and advocates who fought for the bill.
"This was a total, total team effort," Folmer said.
Thinking of family
Cox hasn't received such widespread recognition for his critical role in the passage of the legislation. Cox worked on the bill for 18 months. He co-sponsored the bill in the House in the 2013-14 legislative session, but the measure bogged down. He introduced the bill again in January 2015.
Cox drew inspiration from a mother's love. Speaking on the House floor this month, Cox said he received a phone call from Dana Ulrich, a Spring Township resident and a passionate advocate for medical marijuana. Ulrich hopes it could help her daughter, Lorelei, who suffers hundreds of seizures a day.
"That conversation was the beginning of my journey," Cox said on the House floor.
"She said, 'Think of your own family,' " said Cox, a father of five.
Cox's daughter, who is 17, had open-heart surgery at 4 months and other subsequent operations. He thought of other family members who have had health challenges. And then, he thought of how many others were in his shoes, but without the prospect of relief.
"Doctors are in the best position to make the call on what their patients should be receiving," Cox said on the House floor.
He said lawmakers need to give patients and families more than just a medical option: They needed to provide hope.
'We stopped being politicians'
Leach fought the longest for the bill.
"When I first introduced the medical marijuana bill in 2010, I couldn't get a single co-sponsor," Leach said at the bill signing. "I could not have imagined that a team like this would eventually rally around this bill."
Known for an off-beat sense of humor, Leach was in his glory at the press conference celebrating the signing of the law.
"It is truly a humbling experience, and as many of you know, I am not given to bouts of excessive humbleness," Leach said.
Turning serious, Leach praised the hundreds of advocates who camped out in the Capitol and "turned this building into their home over the last couple years to make this happen."
Leach noted the unusual political alliances that emerged to fight for medical marijuana. The liberal Leach called Folmer "my favorite right-wing lunatic," drawing laughs as he acknowledged that the two are about a million miles apart politically.
The two displayed genuine warmth toward each other at the bill signing. When Folmer introduced Leach at the press conference, he said, "It was a real honor to work with you, brother."
On this issue, their political philosophies didn't matter. Folmer and Leach worked together to coax their colleagues in the Capitol.
"We studied, we begged, we cajoled and we argued, and we convinced our fellow legislators to join us," Leach said.
At the bill signing, Leach explained, "We stopped being politicians and started being human beings."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: PA: The Lawmakers Who Wouldn't Give Up On Medical Marijuana
Author: Ron Southwick
Photo Credit: Joe Hermitt
Website: Berks & Beyond
