West Virginia medical marijuana bill gains support and momentum!
For the last two years, Del. Mike Manypenny (D-Taylor) has introduced effective medical marijuana legislation in West Virginia. These compassionate bills would have provided relief to patients with a wide variety of serious, debilitating conditions, but sadly, the bills did not receive serious consideration.
Fortunately for patients, the situation has changed dramatically in 2013. Del. Manypenny has submitted two bills this year, and the second, H.B. 2961, attracted nine co-sponsors! A public hearing was held March 28 in the House Health and Human Resources Committee, and 18 supporters spoke in favor of the bill. Surprisingly, no opponents showed up to speak against the bill!
Further action is not expected on H.B. 2961 this session, but we have been assured that a study committee will seriously consider the bill this summer. If you live in West Virginia, please contact your legislators and ask them to support the medical marijuana bill.
If you are supportive and are a medical professional, a seriously ill patient who might benefit from medical marijuana, a law enforcement official, a clergy member, or a member of the legal community, or you know someone else that is, please email msimon@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help. Please be sure to include your address or nine-digit ZIP code so we can help you identify your elected officials.
Learn more about West Virginia’s marijuana laws
West Virginia ranks fourth in the nation (tied with nine other states) for the harshest maximum sentences for possession of an ounce of marijuana, and African Americans in West Virginia are arrested for marijuana possession at nearly seven times the rate of whites. You can learn more about West Virginia’s marijuana laws by reading this short report by Jon Gettman, PhD. Please write to your legislators and ask them to stop arresting people for possessing marijuana, or ask them to end marijuana prohibition entirely.
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