Vermont Senate passes medical marijuana improvement bill!

Earlier today, the Vermont Senate in an overwhelming voice vote approved S.7, the bill to improve Vermont';s current medical marijuana law. The Senate will likely have a confirmation vote tomorrow and then S.7 will head to the House.

Thank you to everyone who took time to write and call your senators. MPP would like to especially thank Steve Perry, Steve Merrill, Mark Tucci, Dr. Joe McSherry, Vince Mulac, and all of the other patients and activists who testified in favor of S.7. Your courage is truly admirable and inspiring.

Despite vicious attacks from our opponents, the momentum is clearly in our favor. Now is an excellent opportunity to build on this momentum. Please write a letter to the editor of your local paper, thanking the Senate for passing this compassionate legislation and urging the House and Governor Douglas to quickly do the same. We've provided you with some basic talking points, but remember that a personally crafted letter is much more likely to get published.

If you are a medical marijuana patient who does not currently qualify under the medical marijuana law or who finds the plant limits insufficient and you are interested in helping to expand the law, please contact me by e-mailing Zane@mpp.org. If you are a medical professional, a law enforcement official, or a clergy member, you can also be of special help.

Currently, only patients suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, or multiple sclerosis qualify for Vermont's medical marijuana program. S.7 will add serious conditions that cause nausea, wasting, chronic pain, or seizures to the law. Additionally, this compassionate legislation will increase the number of plants that a patient in the program may possess, because the current limits are not adequate for patients. It also reduces the program registration fee from $100 to $50.

While today';s victory in the Senate marks a major step forward in protecting Vermont's seriously ill patients, we still have a long way to go and can't let up yet. I will keep you informed as the House begins discussing S.7 in the next several weeks.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this message along to your friends and family in Vermont so that others can stand up for the state's most vulnerable residents.