Marijuana Policy Project

The phone is ringing off the hook in Rep. Frank Oliver's office.  That is because he has decided that PA HB1393 "is worthy of discussion."

Patients and doctors have been frustrated by the failure of Pennsylvania to legalize medical marijuana. Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana and other organizations had hoped that hearings would be held in September. But the Pennsylvania state budget crisis took priority.

The announcement at Health and Human Services November 10 meeting to hold hearings on December 2 is considered a major step forward in legalizing medical marijuana in the state of Pennsylvania.

"Medical Marijuana does have merit in some situations," said Stanley H. Mitchel, Oliver's Chief Legal Counsel.  We believe it should be called up for discussion. We have a lot of questions that the sponsors of the bill and the patients will be able to answer.

Pennsylvania House Bill 1393 provides for the medical use of marijuana and repeals provisions of law that prohibit and penalize marijuana use.  It is called The Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.

HB1393 was introduced by Rep. Mark Cohen, Dem. and referred to the Health and Human Services Committee on April 30, 2009.   Rep. Oliver is the Chairman of Health and Human Services.

Patients and doctors have been frustrated by the failure of Pennsylvania to legalize medical marijuana.  Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana and other organizations had hoped that hearings would be held in September.  But the Pennsylvania state budget crisis took priority.

The announcement at Health and Human Services November 10 meeting to hold hearings on December is considered a major step forward in legalizing medical marijuana in the state of Pennsylvania.

"The most important step is to convice the House of Representatives and then the Senate," said Rep. Mark Cohen.  I am looking forward to having many witnesses come to testify."