S.B. 94 gaining momentum in Delaware Senate — passes Health and Human Services Committee

Continuing to make history, S.B. 94, a modern medical marijuana bill, was reported out of the Delaware Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday in a 4-0 vote. S.B. 94, which was introduced by the committee's chair, Senator Margaret Rose Henry (D-Wilmington), and co-sponsored by two other committee members, is based on MPP's model bill. It will remove criminal sanctions for the medical use of marijuana by seriously ill patients, and will provide a system of safe access through state-licensed compassion centers.

Now is when the real work begins: Please call your senator and ask her or him to co-sponsor S.B. 94 and commit to voting for it on the floor. Don't forget to fill out the feedback form so you can let us know about your senator's response.  If you are represented by Senators Henry, Karen Peterson, Robert Venables, or Lianne Sorenson, please enthusiastically thank them for their early co-sponsorship and ask them to talk to their colleagues about the bill. Then please send a fax as well to your senator and representative urging them to co-sponsor S.B. 94 and to vote for it when they have the opportunity.

If you are a patient, a loved one, a medical professional, or a member of law enforcement or the clergy who might be interested in speaking out, we need you! Please contact me at state@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help in passing this legislation. Please include your nine-digit ZIP code or your address so we can identify your legislators, and please share your connection with medical marijuana.

On Wednesday, June 3, Sen. Henry seamlessly guided the bill through the committee process, and called upon patients and advocates to offer testimony.  There were at least 13 testimonies that spoke positively about the bill and none that fully opposed the bill. The Delaware Medical Society took a position of neutrality, but noted that its president was in favor of an endorsement. I testified on how the bill would work, and its context amongst other medical marijuana legislation across the country. Two patients, Joe Scarborough, an AIDS and cancer survivor, and Chris M., who suffers chronic pain, offered stirring testimony about how medical marijuana has helped them survive some very difficult health challenges. Joe Scarborough explained "Smoking marijuana has helped with the pain and nausea associated with the drugs I take for AIDS as well as chemotherapy, and it has helped with pain caused by my nerve damage." The committee vote received excellent press coverage.

Together, we can make Delaware the 14th state to allow the doctor-advised medical use of marijuana. Thank you for your support. Please pass this on to any patients you know who might be interested in getting involved.